CHARLESTON, W.Va. — “An emerging, rapidly evolving situation” was how those with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were describing the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 or the Wuhan coronavirus.
“With any virus, and it’s always concerning when you have a new virus that causes disease and is capable of spreading person to person like this one is, over time, you can’t just contain it,” said Dr. Cathy Slemp, West Virginia state health officer, on MetroNews “Talkline.”
Slemp is also commissioner for the Bureau for Public Health in the state Department of Health and Human Resources.
As of Thursday morning, there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in West Virginia and no patients were in the process of being tested or were otherwise under investigation for the illness, Slemp reported.
In West Virginia, the immediate health risk was said to be “low,” but that had the potential to change quickly.
Dr. Cathy Slemp, Commissioner of the Bureau of Public Health and State Health Officer gives @HoppyKercheval her insights on preparations for coronavirus. WATCH: https://t.co/wkudfIRZCB pic.twitter.com/bO6LuUPT0Q
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) February 27, 2020
Because this type of coronavirus which originated in Wuhan, China is new, people currently have little to no immunity against it which has helped with the spread of the virus from person to person worldwide.
Thus far, community spread, meaning the spread of an illness without a known infection source, has been limited in the United States.
That likely won’t remain the case.
“As we begin to think about the potential for community spread, now’s the time to prepare around that and so that starts to engage all of us,” Slemp said.
“Just like you would prepare for snowstorms or other kinds of things, it’s worth taking those steps to make sure.”
She said homes should be stocked with several days of supplies, including medications, and business owners needed to review sick policies.
Around the globe, more than 80,000 cases of COVID-19, including upwards of 2,700 deaths, were being reported earlier this week.
“These are always concerning situations when you have new outbreaks in infection. There’s no need to panic and have fear over it,” Dr. Slemp said.
“It’s a matter of staying informed and making appropriate plans going forward. I think these are times in communities when we all come together. We have to come together and plan.”
Slemp’s recommendations were to get flu shots and to take preventative steps in the ongoing flu season to stop the spread of germs like frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning surfaces and staying home from work or school for existing illnesses.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath appearing anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure.
“Everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat,” Slemp said.
“These are viruses that spread in communities and it’s important that we think about how do we all take a role in preventing that.”
Those with the state DHHR have been monitoring the outbreak in coordination with federal, state and local public health partners at the direction of Governor Jim Justice.
On Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump announced he had assigned Vice President Mike Pence to lead the national coronavirus response.