Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, CDC recommends that travelers avoid travel to mainland China and South Korea, and reconsider cruise ship travel to or within Asia. The recommendations to avoid travel to China applies only to mainland China and does not include Hong Kong, Macau, or the island of Taiwan. CDC has posted several country-specific travel health notices for COVID-19. After travel, if you do not feel well, call your doctor and tell them where you traveled and your symptoms.
Preparing Individuals and Communities for COVID-19
On Wednesday, February 26th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the United States’ 15th case of COVID-19. The individual’s exposure source is not immediately known, and it may be the first reported case of community transmission within the U.S. CDC, along with federal, state, and local partners, are working to prepare communities for the potential of further community spread in the U.S.
CDC recommends individuals and families follow everyday preventative measures as the frontline of defense against COVID-19 and other seasonal respiratory viruses:
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.
To learn more about preventative measures to take should an outbreak occur in your community, visit the CDC’s Community Mitigation Guidance webpage.
WA Dept. of Health - Resources include guidance on risk assessment, monitoring contacts, transport and arrival of PUIs, and other evaluation tools for healthcare professionals.
CDC Watch Level 1: Practice usual precautions for this destination, as described in the Travel Health Notice and/or on the destination page.
CDC Alert Level 2: Practice enhanced precautions for this destination. The Travel Health Notice describes additional precautions added, or defines a specific at-risk population.
CDC Warning Level 3: Avoid all non-essential travel to this destination. The outbreak is of high risk to travelers and no precautions are available to protect against the identified increased risk.