January 24, 2020

2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Update 2

As you may know, health authorities around the world are closely monitoring an outbreak of a respiratory illness that resembles pneumonia, linked to a new coronavirus identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also identified additional cases in Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Taipei, Macau, and South Korea. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified two cases in the United States, one in the state of Washington and one in the state of Illinois, and they are currently monitoring reports in other locations in the U.S. (As of January 23, 2020, no cases have been reported in Los Angeles county, although our local Department of Public Health has advised all persons to monitor this developing news story and be aware of the symptoms to watch for—see below.)

Anyone who has recently traveled to those areas where cases of this new coronavirus disease have been confirmed, or who has been in contact with other persons or animals from those areas, are advised to watch for signs of any illness (such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties) and immediately communicate such symptoms and your travel history to a health care professional. (Persons with symptoms are encouraged to call a health care service provider first, before going to medical office, clinic, or hospital, in order to prevent any possible further person-to-person spread of infection, whether or not caused by this new virus.)

Any travelers are advised that health screenings are being conducted in at least five U.S. airports for anyone arriving from Wuhan. This situation continues to develop, and health investigations are currently underway in at least five countries, so further advisories or warnings are possible, and additional procedures affecting especially air travel may be announced in the future. Please pay attention to reputable news sources for the latest information (two such sources are included below).

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

ArtCenter will continue to update the campus community with any helpful information we can share and we wish everyone continued good health.