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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2020
COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) Situational Summary
What is the current situation outlook with COVID-19?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are currently 83,650 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2,858 deaths globally. Of these cases, the vast majority have occurred in mainland China. At this time, the U.S. has 59 confirmed cases (the majority of these are related to travel and repatriation efforts). As of Friday, February 28, 2020, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Missouri. At this time, the CDC states the virus is not currently spreading in the community in the U.S and considers the risk to the general American public to be low.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
COVID-19 is caused by a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the other coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold. Patients with COVID-19 typically have symptoms associated with mild to severe respiratory illness. Such symptoms may include: fever, cough, and shortness of breath. However, more serious complications, including high fever, pneumonia, and sepsis, can occur leading to a more severe illness and, potentially, death.
How can I protect myself and my loved ones?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends individuals and families follow everyday preventive measures:
• Voluntary Home Isolation: Stay home when you are sick with respiratory disease symptoms. At the present time, these symptoms are more likely due to influenza or other respiratory viruses than to COVID-19-related virus.
• Respiratory Etiquette: Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw it in the trash can.
• Hand Hygiene: Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%-95% alcohol.
• Environmental Health Action: Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects
Routine use of these measures by individuals and their families will increase community resilience and readiness for responding to an outbreak.
Being prepared is always a good idea, regardless of the situation. The Ready-in-3 program encourages families to: Create a Plan, Prepare a Kit, & Listen for Information. Ready-in-3 is endorsed by the American Red Cross, the State Emergency Management Agency, Missouri’s Office of Homeland Security and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. For more information, please visit health.mo.gov/emergencies/readyin3/.
Your local health department is monitoring the situation and working closely with our health and emergency preparedness partners at the local, state and federal levels to keep you informed and to guide our preparedness planning efforts.
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For more information, contact Mason Alley at 397-3396 or by e-mail at Mason.Alley@lpha.mo.gov. ... See MoreSee Less
DHSS Director Williams meets at White House to discuss federal, state and local health officials’ strategic alignment on COVID-19
JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is engaging with federal governmental leadership, national thought leaders and local public health agencies to maximize Missouri’s preparedness for the possible spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus should a future case be diagnosed in Missouri.
“In joining my fellow state health officers from around the nation this week at the White House to discuss preparations across our country with the acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and the Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, I am pleased that our efforts here in Missouri are strategically aligned with our federal and national partners,” said Dr. Randall Williams, DHSS Director. “Prior to the national health emergency being declared on January 31, our incident management team from DHSS had already begun daily meetings (on Jan. 27) as part of our normal preparedness and response duties. Part of our responsibilities also include being an effective liaison to local public health departments who were briefed last week in Jefferson City with the latest information from federal partners.”
State health officials have fielded numerous calls and worked to review information relating to possible cases. To date, more than 60 individuals have been evaluated due to their travel or exposure history or symptoms. A much smaller number of individuals within Missouri have met the CDC’s criteria for persons under investigation (PUI), meaning they have both an exposure history and are symptomatic under CDC guidelines, which are reviewed with CDC to determine testing. Of PUIs in Missouri, none have tested positive for COVID-19 and no tests are currently pending.
Today, the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory was approved by the CDC to begin providing testing. The test uses real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) to detect the virus which causes COVID-19, and it can provide same-day results from when a specimen is received at the laboratory.
“Our Missouri team has been working to educate and collaborate with a robust network of response organizations including the State Emergency Management Agency, all 16 State departments, the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory, clinicians, local public health departments, medical associations, hospital associations, airports, school nurses, student health departments at colleges, and others to provide timely and accurate information in preparation for the possibility of a future positive case,” Dr. Williams indicated. “We are dedicated to continuing to educate Missourians about COVID-19. The risk for infection still remains low, and we will continue to strategically align with all of our partners under our operating principle of hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.”
In the midst of a moderately severe flu season, the public health message of DHSS continues to be the importance of using good health practices such as effective hand washing and communicating well with your physicians.
DHSS has established a website at www.health.mo.gov/coronavirus to provide information and links to resources and education material on COVID-19. ... See MoreSee Less
From our friends at MoDOT:
Peek behind the plow
You’ve probably seen MoDOT’s yellow snow plows out clearing the roads during the recent snowstorms, but do you know what goes on behind the scenes to get those trucks ready to roll?
When Mother Nature is at her worst, MoDOT responds with its best. We’ve created a video to show you the planning, the performance and the people who keep our roadways clear.
You can see it here or by clicking the image above. ... See MoreSee Less
Missouri DHSS and partners continue planning and preparing for novel coronavirus
No confirmed cases in Missouri to date
JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health departments to respond to the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak and assure the health and well-being of Missourians as residents return from China.
“We have been working to ensure our state is educated and prepared and is adhering to all of the latest guidance from our federal partners,” said Dr. Randall Williams, director of DHSS. “As travelers return to Missouri, we have partnered with them and local public health agencies on monitoring efforts to ensure their safety and the safety of their families and communities.”
The federal government is recommending self-monitoring with public health supervision for all travelers returning from mainland China (excluding Hubei Province) who have been screened at one of 11 airports and found to have no symptoms. Local public health agencies are mobilizing across the state to educate returning travelers about how to isolate and check for symptoms twice per day. Daily reports from the travelers to local and state public health help ensure the health of travelers and their communities.
Currently, the federal government is requiring that:
· All travelers to the United States who have been in China in the past 14 days are being routed to 11 airports, none of which are in Missouri. There they are screened for travel history and symptoms.
· Travelers who have returned from Hubei province in China where the outbreak is centered are quarantined by the federal government for 14 days at one of the 11 airports.
· Travelers from China (excluding Hubei Province) without symptoms will be allowed to continue to their final destination. These travelers will self-monitor with public health supervision. If any of those travelers develop symptoms of respiratory illness, they will undergo epidemiological and clinical evaluation, in collaboration with health care providers, to rule out infection with novel coronavirus.
Missouri businesses and employers are urged to review the latest interim guidance provided by the CDC, which also underscores the importance of collaboration with public health authorities. The guidance may help prevent workplace exposures to acute respiratory illnesses, including nCoV, in non-health care settings. The guidance also provides planning considerations if there are more widespread, community outbreaks of 2019-nCoV.
The risk to the general public in Missouri, especially without history of travel to China, is still considered very low at this time. Remember that the steps to take to prevent the spread of flu and the common cold could also help prevent the spread of other respiratory viruses like 2019-nCoV:
· Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
· Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
· Avoid exposure to others who are sick.
· Stay home when you are ill.
“As we learn more about the 2019 novel coronavirus, we find there is good and bad news,” said Dr. George Turabelidze, Missouri’s State Epidemiologist. “The good news is that this novel infection does not seem to have as high of a case fatality rate as other coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS. What is discouraging is that this virus is showing the ability to spread as easily as the flu, which means there is a likelihood of many more people becoming infected in the near future.”
Those with questions or concerns related to 2019-nCoV can call 573-751-6113 or email info@health.mo.gov for more information. There are also resources available at health.mo.gov/coronavirus and on the CDC’s website at cdc.gov/coronavirus. ... See MoreSee Less
