Coronavirus

If you develop a fever1 and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after travel from China, you should call ahead to a healthcare professional and mention your recent travel or close contact. If you have had close contact2 with someone showing these symptoms who has recently traveled from this area, you should call ahead to a healthcare professional and mention your close contact and their recent travel. Your healthcare professional will work with your state’s public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested for 2019-nCoV.

CDC advises that people follow these tips to help prevent respiratory illnesses:

☛ Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

☛ Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

☛ Avoid close contact with people who are sick with respiratory symptoms.

☛ Stay home when you are sick.

☛ Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

☛ Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

People who are infected with 2019 nCoV have developed mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms including fever, cough, shortness of breath, and potentially respiratory distress. There are many types of illnesses that can cause these types of respiratory symptoms. Individuals who have these symptoms and have had traveled to China in the last 14 days prior to symptom onset or have had close contact with someone with 2019 nCoV should be medically evaluated.

CDC recommends avoiding non-essential travel to China.The current CDC travel notice advises travelers to China to follow standard precautions, such as hand washing, avoiding contact with people who are ill, and avoiding animals.

Not yet. Currently, there is not a vaccine for 2019 nCoV.

No. CDC does not currently recommend the use of face masks among the general public. While limited person-to-person spread among close contacts has been detected, this virus is not currently spreading in the community in the United States.

The CDC very quickly devised a lab test to identify cases rapidly. Right now health departments around the country send samples to the CDC in Atlanta for analysis, but the CDC hopes to make its test available to labs nationwide in a week or two. That will make the response even faster. Health officials also have stepped up screening of passengers returning from China — these are now being conducted at 20 U.S. airports. And they are recommending against nonessential travel to China.

Many members of the London Business School community have family and friends in China, and we recognise that you will be worried about them. Until further notice, we strongly advise against travel to or from China, including family visits, and encourage you and your family and friends to follow FCO guidance.

The virus's temporary name, according to the World Health Organization, is 2019 nCoV. It's a combination of the year the virus first emerged and the abbreviation for "novel corona virus," a term indicating that the virus is a strain that has not been previously identified.

The virus is also referred to as "Wuhan corona virus," after the city where it first emerged.

Adalja anticipates that another name will emerge soon. "This is a very new virus, and the virology community is trying to come up with a name for it," he says. But naming a virus requires great care, because there can be negative repercussions, he adds.

To support the NSW response to coronavirus, people will not be charged out of pocket expenses who are:

not eligible for Medicare, and

presenting to NSW Health facilities for coronavirus assessment

Most people that are not eligible for Medicare will have health or travel insurance. For those that do not have adequate insurance coverage, NSW Health will cover these costs.

A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), is not that same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.

A diagnosis with coronavirus 229E, NL63, OC43, or HKU1 is not the same as a 2019-nCoV diagnosis. These are different viruses and patients with 2019-nCoV will be evaluated and cared for differently than patients with common coronavirus diagnosis.

Health officials say there are likely to be more cases, especially from people who traveled to China. The people at greatest risk would be health-care workers who are caring for these patients — because of their continued exposure. But they are also on the highest alert and are taking precautions.

Coronavirus experts think that it’s likely that the novel coronavirus originated in an animal species, and then spread to humans.

Person to person spread of the novel coronavirus is occurring, but it is not yet understood how easily this happens.

Human coronavirus strains are spread from person to person through contaminated droplets from a person who is sick with the illness (through coughing or sneezing) or contaminated hands, and generally occurs between people who are close contacts with one another. It is likely this novel coronavirus spreads the same way.

We will continually update School policy as the situation evolves, and post updates here to keep you informed. Do also check official sources including WHO, Public Health England and FCO for the latest advice to help plan your travel.

Most cases have had fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia with severe acute respiratory distress.

No. 2019 nCoV is not the same coronavirus that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012, but is similar in that it is causing respiratory illness.

Currently, there are no specific treatments recommended for illnesses caused by 2019 nCoV. Medical care is supportive to help relieve symptoms.

No. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats. The recently emerged 2019-nCoV is not the same as the coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) or the coronavirus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). However, genetic analyses suggest this virus emerged from a virus related to SARS.

In line with FCO guidance, London Business School has suspended any travel to China on School business, until further notice. Global trips, interviews and events organised by the School in China will be relocated, rescheduled or done remotely until further notice.