As the country and the world monitors the spread of coronavirus, local and state agencies are preparing the same way they have in the past. Since most cases are associated with travel, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport is paying attention to travelers. Officials say a major focus is keeping the airport clean. The coronavirus outbreak just makes it that much more important. The Washoe County Health District is one agency that is communicating with the airport.
"I had some conversations with their medical people just this morning to talk about what they can and should do if they get somebody arriving on a plane that appears to have this," Dr. Randall Todd, Director of Epidemiology and Public Health Preparedness for the Washoe County Health District said.
Officials with the airport say they have the same protocols in place that they started with the Bird Flu outbreak and Ebola.
Todd says he is also in contact with the Washoe County School District, University of Nevada, Reno and local hospitals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is giving guidance but Todd says the local response is what matters most.
"We look to the CDC and the federal government for guidance but ultimately it does come down to what we're able to do locally," Todd said. "We're preparing guidance to put out to schools and other organizations so that they can take appropriate precautions."
The virus is also affecting study abroad programs:
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Renown Regional Medical Center officials say the latest health threat does not change how it plans and trains.
"We practice for various emergencies whether its mass casualties or infectious disease such as the Coronavirus but we are ready and prepared with our teams every single day and we have drills throughout the year," Amy McCombs, Director of Infection Prevention and Emergency Preparedness or Renown said.
15 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the United States. None of those cases are in Nevada. The hope is that it will not spread to the Silver State. If it does, Renown already has guidelines in place.
"For all respiratory illnesses, the protocol's the same," McCombs said. "You get a mask and you're roomed immediately."
Coronavirus can spread from person to person through the air.
"If I've got it, and I'm standing closer than six feet to you, it's coming out and it's in the air space between us and you could breathe it in," Todd said.
It can also spread through hand-to-hand contact. That is why people are encouraged to use the same precautions that they use for flu prevention.
"Infectious prevention is really about hand hygiene, making sure that we wash our hands frequently, that we use proper respiratory etiquette, so we cough and sneeze into our elbow," McCombs said.
There is no way to tell if the virus will be short-term health event, like SARS was, or if it will continue to infect people for the long haul. Todd says people should just be aware and take the proper precautions.
"This is a fluid situation," Todd said. "This is a new disease that has only recently been known about. So the information can change rather quickly."
The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services also released a statement:
"The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services is actively monitoring the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and working closely with State and local partners to protect the health and well-being of Nevadans. While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State of Nevada at this time, the Department is following CDC guidelines, communicating with health organizations, and working with health authorities statewide to ensure everyone is informed of the most up-to-date guidance and ready to respond to this evolving situation."
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