CDC-Updates & Reports

And then there is this:  (Want to toss a coin to see if we'll have an outbreak or not??)

Hat Tip to 'hawkeye ', FluTrackers:

New coronavirus 'not spreading' in the US, CDC says
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/coronavirus-spreading-us-cdc/story?id=68560892

. . . The new coronavirus that's sickened thousands of people in . China and put the world on edge is not spreading in the U.S., health officials said in news conference Monday.

. . . "At this time, in the U.S., the virus is not spreading in the community," she added. "For that reason we continue to believe that the immediate health risk from the new virus to the general public is low at this time.”

ReadyMom wrote:And then there is this:  (Want to toss a coin to see if we'll have an outbreak or not??)

Hat Tip to 'hawkeye ', FluTrackers:

New coronavirus 'not spreading' in the US, CDC says
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/coronavirus-spreading-us-cdc/story?id=68560892

. . . The new coronavirus that's sickened thousands of people in . China and put the world on edge is not spreading in the U.S., health officials said in news conference Monday.

. . . "At this time, in the U.S., the virus is not spreading in the community," she added. "For that reason we continue to believe that the immediate health risk from the new virus to the general public is low at this time.”

Seeing as how there is potentially an up to 14 day incubation period, how can they say it isn't happening if they don't know and there are no symptoms.



According to this
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/110-americans-in-26-states-under-watch-for-wuhan-coronavirus-as-cdc-calls-risk-to-public-low-174050533.html

There are over 100 potential cares.

Drinkthekoolaid wrote:

ReadyMom wrote:And then there is this:  (Want to toss a coin to see if we'll have an outbreak or not??)

Hat Tip to 'hawkeye ', FluTrackers:

New coronavirus 'not spreading' in the US, CDC says
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/coronavirus-spreading-us-cdc/story?id=68560892

. . . The new coronavirus that's sickened thousands of people in . China and put the world on edge is not spreading in the U.S., health officials said in news conference Monday.

. . . "At this time, in the U.S., the virus is not spreading in the community," she added. "For that reason we continue to believe that the immediate health risk from the new virus to the general public is low at this time.”

Seeing as how there is potentially an up to 14 day incubation period, how can they say it isn't happening if they don't know and there are no symptoms.



According to this
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/110-americans-in-26-states-under-watch-for-wuhan-coronavirus-as-cdc-calls-risk-to-public-low-174050533.html

There are over 100 potential cares.

Don't kid yourself this is about the all mighty dollar and the stock market because the government don't give 2 shits about us or people like us...

Question what happens when they close the shipping ports in China ?? I mean for the most part we don't make anything anymore in the good ol USA..

RM's NOTE: Per the CDC teleconference, briefing, today ... this is the first time in 50 years they have imposed a quarantine like this

Hat Tip to 'sharon sanders', FluTrackers:

US - CDC: CDC Issues Federal Quarantine Order to Repatriated U.S. Citizens at March Air Reserve Base - January 31, 2020

Today, 03:41 PM

From: "Media@cdc.gov (CDC)"
To: MMWR-MEDIA@LISTSERV.CDC.GOV
Subject: CDC Media Statement: CDC Issues Federal Quarantine Order to Repatriated U.S. Citizens at March Air Reserve Base
Date: Jan 31, 2020 2:24 PM

Media Statement

For Immediate Release
Friday, January 31, 2020

Contact: CDC Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

CDC Issues Federal Quarantine Order to Repatriated U.S. Citizens at March Air Reserve Base

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under statutory authority of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, has issued federal quarantine orders to all 195 United States citizens who repatriated to the U.S. on January 29, 2020. The quarantine will last 14 days from when the plane left Wuhan, China. This action is a precautionary and preventive step to maximize the containment of the virus in the interest of the health of the American public.

This legal order will protect the health of the repatriated citizens, their families, and their communities. These individuals will continue to be housed at the March Air Reserve Base in Ontario, California. Medical staff will continue to monitor the health of each traveler, including temperature checks and observation for respiratory symptoms. If an individual presents symptoms, medical care will be readily available. Even if a screening test comes back negative from CDC’s laboratory results, it does not conclusively mean an individual is at no risk of developing the disease over the likely 14-day incubation period.

This legal order is part of a public health response that is necessary to prevent the transmission and spread of this virus in the U.S. The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The current epidemic in Mainland China has demonstrated the virus’s capacity to spread globally. CDC is using one of the tools in our toolbox as a way to contain the potential impact of this novel virus on the United States.

This outbreak investigation is ongoing; we learn more every day about this newly emerging virus. First and foremost, CDC is committed to protecting the health and safety of all Americans. While CDC continues to believe the immediate risk to the larger American public is low at this time, this legal order has been put in place as a necessary step to fully assess and care for these repatriated Americans, protecting them, their loved ones, and their communities.

For the latest information on the outbreak, visit CDC’s Novel Coronavirus 2019 website.

The CDC has been busy updating their pages. Here's another for HOME CARE of nCov patients! When I mentioned this to my hubby I added: Their getting folks ready to treat at home, in stead of going to docs or hospitals. Of course his response was an eye roll.  

Hat Tip to Avian Flu Diary:

Interim guidance for persons who may have 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) to prevent spread in homes and residential communities
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-prevent-spread.html

   February 1, 2020

   This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the epidemiology of 2019-nCoV and the transmission of other viral respiratory infections. CDC will update this interim guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available.   ---CONTINUED---

 THANK YOU to Sharon Sanders, over at FluTrackers for the following Summary for yesterday's CDC teleconference:

teleconference notes:

5 more US infections, total is 11.

4 of 5 have travel history to Wuhan, 1 of 5 is a close contact of a known case.

Expect this to continue.

167 persons under investigation have tested negative

82 tests pending on possible cases

CDC has isolated virus

Will submit an emergency request to FDA to be able to use new CDC test

Negative test does not quarantee 100% disease free. Infection might be new in person's body and is not picked up by test yet.

CDC is issuing additional guidance for travelers

Travel policy will not catch every case. Goal is to slow entry in the US.

Dept of State bringing more people back from Wuhan. Will be under quarantine for 14 days.

"A very serious health threat" Preparing like this is the next pandemic.

Rumor control? Holding press conferences to get correct information out. Asking for journalists to help in getting credible data out. American public is at low risk. Focus is now on travelers.

Name is temporary.

11 airports are heaving screening: JFK, O"Hare, SFO, Seattle, Honolulu, LAX, Atlanta, Washington Dulles, Dallas, Newark, Detroit.

Only 195 quarantined - the original people from Wuhan. (My comment: Except what about the hospitalized people? Aren't they essentially quarantined also?)

No deaths in the US. Some patients have had some oxygen requirements.

Where do quarantined people from the airports go? Working on plan. Might be different per location. Many localities have pandemic plans and have an idea where they will place these people.

17k in China with a novel virus with no immunity. Large expanding outbreak. Community transmission in China. All worrisome data points.

Goal is to slow this thing down.

"Unprecedented threat"

Is CDC panicking? Horrible situation in China. Lots of disruption. Hearts go out to them.

CDC has strong scientists. CDC would be a help to China. Science should trump everything else.

ReadyMom wrote:  THANK YOU to Sharon Sanders, over at FluTrackers for the following Summary for yesterday's CDC teleconference:

teleconference notes:
[snip]

good summary.

CDC says Americans shouldn’t wear face masks to prevent coronavirus ...
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-cdc-says-americans-dont-have-to-wear-facemasks-because-of-coronavirus-2020-01-30?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people in the U.S. shouldn’t wear face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus, but that’s not the only reason Americans may want to think twice about using them, one expert told MarketWatch.

Most people don’t know how to use face masks correctly, and a rush to buy masks could prevent the people who need them most — ---CONTINUED---

ReadyMom wrote:CDC says Americans shouldn’t wear face masks to prevent coronavirus ...
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-cdc-says-americans-dont-have-to-wear-facemasks-because-of-coronavirus-2020-01-30?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people in the U.S. shouldn’t wear face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus, but that’s not the only reason Americans may want to think twice about using them, one expert told MarketWatch.

Most people don’t know how to use face masks correctly, and a rush to buy masks could prevent the people who need them most —   ---CONTINUED---

This is their truth.

a rush to buy masks could prevent the people who need them most

They just want them for themselves.

CDC is making a strong statement in it's Risk Assessment paragraph:

Hat Tip to 'sharon sanders', FluTrackers:

2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation Summary
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html

This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available, in addition to updated guidance.

Updated February 5, 2020

(SNIP) ... Risk Assessment

Outbreaks of novel virus infections among people are always of public health concern. The risk from these outbreaks depends on characteristics of the virus, including how well it spreads between people, the severity of resulting illness, and the medical or other measures available to control the impact of the virus (for example, vaccine or treatment medications).

The potential public health threat posed by 2019-nCoV virus is high, both globally and to the United States. The fact that this virus has caused illness, including illness resulting in death, and sustained person-to-person spread in China is concerning. These factors meet two of the criteria of a pandemic. It’s unclear how the situation will unfold, but risk is dependent on exposure. At this time, some people will have an increased risk of infection, for example healthcare workers caring for 2019-nCoV patients and other close contacts of 2019-nCoV patients. For the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV is considered low at this time.

Hat Tip to 'NawtyBits', FluTrackers:

Initial Public Health Response and Interim Clinical Guidance for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak — United States, December 31, 2019–February 4, 2020
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6905e1.htm?s_cid=mm6905e1_w

Weekly / February 7, 2020 / 69(5);140–146

(SNIP) ... The 2019-nCoV has impacted multiple countries, caused severe illness, and sustained person-to-person transmission making it a concerning and serious public health threat. It is unclear how this virus will impact the U.S. over time. For the general population, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at the current time, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV is considered low. CDC, multiple other federal agencies, state and local health departments, and other partners are implementing aggressive measures to slow U.S. transmission of 2019-nCoV (4,5). These measures require the identification of cases and contacts in the United States and the effective management of the estimated 14,000 travelers arriving from mainland China to the United States each day (3). These measures are being implemented based on the assumption that there will be more U.S. 2019-nCoV cases occurring with potential chains of transmission, with the understanding that these measures might not prevent the eventual establishment of ongoing, widespread transmission of the virus in the United States.

Hat Tip to 'Sharon Sanders', FluTrackers:

Teleconference Notes for Feb 12, 2020:

AUDIO of Teleconference here: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/t0212-cdc-telebriefing-covid-19.mp3

teleconference notes:


Condolences to family of American who died in China. Also condolences to all of China.

New case - Wuhan returnee. Mild case. (FluTrackers already has reported this case on the site.)

Total number is 13.

Mishap in letting this patient out of hospital. Have made procedural changes to prevent testing mishaps again. I think this patient is back in quarantine?

CDC has screened 30k people from China.

Those who pass screening continue on to final destination. Asking them to restrict their movement for 14 days.

Should be prepared for this virus to gain a foothold in US

At point we will see community spread in US.

Developing guidances for practitioners.

PPE supplies being organized for future need.

Something about masks....loosing connection off and on....

CDC working in close collaboration with Japan.


Transmission breaking up. Missed some data.


Redialed - Back in....

Question and answer period....

Incubation period? 24 days? Have seen the paper. Rush on publishing data due to emerging situation. Also looking at other data. Abundance of data says 14 days as end of incubation period.

Cases out of China reported lower...what about that? Optimistic that this is a good sign. Don't have any supportive data. Hopefully WHO delegation can provide an insight.

Hope every US state has a test kit this week.

Criteria for testing in US...some symptoms + travel history...and/or a contact of confirmed cases....basic criteria...so far not seeing widespread community spread in US.

Any US CDC employees part of WHO delegation in China? 3 WHO staff advance team are there. CDC is ready to help. Have not been invited yet.

All clinical specimens being sent to CDC as states get organized. Will still do this after all states are up and running.

Americans on board cruise ship docked in Japan. For sure some are diagnosed. Working with Japan. Want to protect Americans health. Coordinating with US Embassy.

Will warmer weather lower transmission? This is true for flu. New disease - don't know.

Info from China? Getting data? Lot more data coming out in recent weeks as compared to beginning. Want to touch the data themselves - directly. Would like to have someone on the ground there to be able to directly access the core data. Also CDC could offer a broader view of core data. No direct access to data.

Hat Tip to 'Ronan Kelly', FluTrackers:

2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the U.S.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

On February 11, 2020 the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19. CDC will be updating our website and other CDC materials to reflect the updated name.

Updated February 12, 2020

CDC is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus named 2019-nCoV. The outbreak first started in Wuhan, China, but cases have been identified in a growing number of other international locations, including the United States. This page will be updated regularly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

People Under Investigation (PUI) in the United States*†

Positive 13
Negative 347
Pending§ 60
Total 420
*Cumulative since January 21, 2020.
† Numbers closed out at 7 p.m. the night before reporting.
§Includes specimens received and awaiting testing, as well as specimens in route to CDC.

Number of states and territories with PUI: 41

Hat Tip to 'Pathfinder', FluTrackers:

On February 11, 2020 the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease that is causing the current outbreak of coronavirus disease, COVID-19. CDC will be updating our website and other CDC materials to reflect the updated name.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary

This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available, in addition to updated guidance.

Updated February 13, 2020 Background

CDC is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and which continues to expand. On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization named the disease coronavirus disease 2019 (abbreviated “COVID-19”).

Chinese health officials have reported tens of thousands of cases of COVID-19 in China, with the virus reportedly spreading from person-to-person in parts of that country. COVID-19 illnesses, most of them associated with travel from Wuhan, also are being reported in a growing number of international locations, including the United States. Some person-to-person spread of this virus outside China has been detected. The United States reported the first confirmed instance of person-to-person spread with this virus on January 30, 2020.

On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concernexternal icon” (PHEIC). On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19. Also on January 31, the President of the United States signed a presidential “Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirusexternal icon.” These measures were announced at a press briefing by members of the President’s Coronavirus Task Forceexternal icon.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS, SARS, and now with this new virus (named SARS-COV2).

Source and Spread of the Virus

Chinese health authorities were the first to post the full genome of the SARS-COV2 virus in GenBankexternal icon, the NIH genetic sequence database, and in the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAIDexternal icon) portal, an action which has facilitated detection of this virus. CDC is posting the full genome of the SARS-COV2 viruses detected in U.S. patients to GenBank as sequencing is completed.

The SARS-COV2 virus is a betacoronavirus, like MERS and SARs, both of which have their origins in bats. The sequences from U.S. patients are similar to the one that China initially posted, suggesting a likely single, recent emergence of this virus from an animal reservoir.

Early on, many of the patients in the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. Later, a growing number of patients reportedly did not have exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread. Chinese officials report that sustained person-to-person spread in the community is occurring in China. Person-to-person spread has been reported outside China, including in the United States and other countries. Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses.

On This Page

• Background
  
• Source and Spread of the Virus
  
• Situation in U.S.
  
• Illness Severity
  
• Risk Assessment
  
• What to Expect
  
• CDC Response
  
• CDC Recommends
  
• Other Available Resources
  

Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Globally

View larger image and see a list of locations

COVID-19 in the U.S.

View larger image

Situation in U.S.

Imported cases of COVID-19 in travelers have been detected in the U.S. Person-to-person spread of COVID-19 also has been seen among close contacts of returned travelers from Wuhan, but at this time, this virus is NOT currently spreading in the community in the United States.

The U.S. government has taken unprecedented stepsexternal icon related to travel in response to the growing public health threat posed by this new coronavirus, including suspending entry in the United States of foreign nationals who have visited China within the past 14 days. Measures monitor the health of those who are allowed entry into the United States (U.S. citizens, residents and family) who have been in China within 14 days also are being implemented.

Illness Severity

Both MERS and SARS have been known to cause severe illness in people. The complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19 is not fully understood. Reported illnesses have ranged from mild to severe, including resulting in death. Learn more about the symptoms associated with COVID-19.

There are ongoing investigations to learn more. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.

Risk Assessment

Outbreaks of novel virus infections among people are always of public health concern. The risk from these outbreaks depends on characteristics of the virus, including how well it spreads between people, the severity of resulting illness, and the medical or other measures available to control the impact of the virus (for example, vaccine or treatment medications).

The potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 virus is high, both globally and to the United States. The fact that this virus has caused illness, including illness resulting in death, and sustained person-to-person spread in China is concerning. These factors meet two of the criteria of a pandemic. It’s unclear how the situation will unfold, but risk is dependent on exposure. At this time, some people will have an increased risk of infection, for example healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 and other close contacts of patients with COVID-19. For the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low at this time.

What to Expect

More cases are likely to be identified in the coming days, including more cases in the United States. It’s also likely that person-to-person spread will continue to occur, including in the United States. CDC Response



This is a picture of CDC’s laboratory test kit for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). CDC is shipping the test kits to laboratories CDC has designated as qualified, including U.S. state and local public health laboratories, Department of Defense (DOD) laboratories and select international laboratories. The test kits are bolstering global laboratory capacity for detecting 2019-nCov.
resize iconView Larger

• The federal government is working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat.
  
• The public health response is multi-layered, with the goal of detecting and minimizing introductions of this virus in the United States so as to reduce the spread and the impact of this virus.
  
• CDC established a COVID-19 Incident Management System on January 7, 2020. On January 21, 2020, CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to better provide ongoing support to the COVID-19 response.
  
• On January 27, 2020, CDC issued updated travel guidance for China, recommending that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to all of the country (Level 3 Travel Health Notice).
  
• The U.S. government has taken unprecedented steps with respect to travel in response to the growing public health threat posed by this new coronavirus:
  
  
  
  • Effective February 2, 2020, at 5pm, the U.S. government suspended entry of foreign nationals who have been in China within the past 14 days.
    
  • U.S. citizens, residents, and their immediate family members who have been in Hubei province and other parts of mainland China are allowed to enter the United States, but they are subject to health monitoring and possible quarantine for up to 14 days.
    
  • See more at: “Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirusexternal icon”.
    
  
  
  
• CDC issued an interim Health Alert Network (HAN) Update to inform state and local health departments and healthcare professionals about this outbreak on February 1, 2020.
  
• On January 30, 2020, CDC published guidance for healthcare professionals on the clinical care of COVID-19 patients.
  
• On February 3, 2020, CDC posted guidance for assessing the potential risk for various exposures to COVID-19 and managing those people appropriately.
  
• CDC has deployed multidisciplinary teams to support state health departments with clinical management, contact tracing, and communications.
  
• CDC has worked with the Department of State, supporting the safe return of Americans who have been stranded as a result of the ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 and related travel restrictions. CDC has worked to assess the health of passengers as they return to the United States and provided continued daily monitoring of people who are quarantined.
  
• CDC has developed a real time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) test that can diagnose COVID-19 in respiratory samples from clinical specimens. On January 24, 2020, CDC publicly posted the assay protocol for this test and has begun distributing these tests to states.
  
• CDC has been uploading the entire genome of the viruses from reported cases in the United States to GenBank as sequencing was completed.
  
• CDC has grown the COVID-19 virus in cell culture, which is necessary for further studies, including for additional genetic characterization. The cell-grown virus was sent to NIH’s BEI Resources Repositoryexternal icon for use by the broad scientific community.
  

CDC Recommends

• While the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time, everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat:
  
  
  
  • It’s currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine, taking everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed.
    
  • If you are a healthcare provider, be on the look-out for people who recently traveled from China and have fever and respiratory symptoms.
    
  • If you are a healthcare provider caring for a COVID-19 patient or a public health responder, please take care of yourself and follow recommended infection control procedures.
    
  • If you have been in China or have been exposed to someone sick with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, you will face some limitations on your movement and activity. Please follow instructions during this time. Your cooperation is integral to the ongoing public health response to try to slow spread of this virus. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, contact your healthcare provider, and tell them about your symptoms and your travel or exposure to a COVID-19 patient.
    
  • For people who are ill with COVID-19, please follow CDC guidance on how to reduce the risk of spreading your illness to others.
    
  
  
  

Other Available Resources

The following resources are available with information on COVID-19

• U.S. Department of State China Travel Advisoryexternal icon
  
• World Health Organization, Coronavirusexternal icon
  

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html[/QUOTE]

Hat Tip to 'Sharon Sanders', FluTrackers:

teleconference notes:

Department of State and CDC reps participating.....

Reconsider cruise ship travel in Asia. US repatriation flights are not  common. US citizens should consider possible quarantine procedures in  Asia. All US travelers should register with state department when  traveling abroad.

Change in reporting COVID-19

1) Returnees

2) Domestic cases

Domestic cases reflect more what is going on in US with COVID-19

13 domestic cases (I guess 2  from previous total of 15 were moved to the returnee category?) + 21 returnees in US.

Diamond Princess had 329 returnees to US. 18 have tested positive at  CDC. Expect to see more cases among passengers. Trying to make their  quarantine as easy as possible.  Working with local hospitals to provide  care to these returnees.

Humbolt county, California case is most recent confirmed domestic US case.

Never expected all travelers from China who are COVID-19 positive to be  caught by airport screenings. Not seeing community spread in US YET,  likely it will happen.

Tremendous public health threat. No vaccine and no specific drug.  Getting ready for possible pandemic. Working with local health systems  across country.

Trying to ensure health care workers on the front line have PPE.

See MMWR - Community Mitigation Guidelines for Pandemic

US may need to close schools and businesses to mitigate spread.

CDC guidances will change as more information is developed.

Steroids treatment? CDC clinical guidance is not recommending steroids  at this time. Older people and those with underlying illnesses appear to  have worse outcomes. (Something about not getting verified treatment  info from China...)

Infections in returnees was pre-existing (emerging). Not developed in route.

Why more cases in Diamond Princess returnees expected? High risk situation on ship.

No lag time in testing at CDC.

Re-doing reagents in kits. Reworking test kits is part of emerging disease process.

More data coming out about the asymptomatic cases. Trying to understand  situation. Possible many of those cases actually had mild symptoms.

Iran situation? Looking at official cases + rumors. Data is very new. Evaluating. Working with W.H.O. on this.

Broadening recommendation for screening? In process of setting up flu  monitoring apparatus for this disease. Always re-evaluating case  definitions. See CDC page for current definition.

Putting this here, because it's basically a CDC summary:  (And YES ... I bolded the entire first 2 paragraphs!)  

CDC warns community COVID-19 spread could take place in US
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/02/cdc-warns-community-covid-19-spread-could-take-place-us

Today officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that although the agency is taking historic measures to slow the introduction of COVID-19 into the United States, the country should prepare for the possibility of community spread, as seen in China and neighboring Asian countries.

"The day may come when we may need to implement such measures as seen in Asia," Nancy Messonnier, MD, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a press conference, referencing the closing of businesses, schools, and churches in multiple countries where transmission is now occurring within the community.   ---CONTINUED---

Hat Tip to 'Pathfinder', FluTrackers:

This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available, in addition to updated guidance.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html

Updated February 28, 2020 [h=2]Background[/h]
CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and which has now been detected in 57 locations internationally, including cases in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).

On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concernexternal icon” (PHEIC). On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19. [h=3]Source and Spread of the Virus[/h]
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and now with this new virus (named SARS-CoV-2).

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a betacoronavirus, like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. All three of these viruses have their origins in bats. The sequences from U.S. patients are similar to the one that China initially posted, suggesting a likely single, recent emergence of this virus from an animal reservoir.

Early on, many of the patients in the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. Later, a growing number of patients reportedly did not have exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread. Person-to-person spread has been reported outside China, including in the United States and other locations. Chinese officials report that sustained person-to-person spread in the community is occurring in China. In addition, other destinations have apparent community spread, meaning some people have been infected who are not sure how or where they became infected. Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses.

On This Page

• Background
  
• Source and Spread of the Virus
  
• Situation in U.S.
  
• Illness Severity
  
• Risk Assessment
  
• What May Happen
  
• CDC Response
  
• Highlights of CDC’s Response
  
• CDC Recommends
  
• Other Available Resources
  

[h=3]Situation in U.S.[/h]
Imported cases of COVID-19 in travelers have been detected in the U.S. Person-to-person spread of COVID-19 also has been reported among close contacts of returned travelers from Wuhan. On February 25, CDC confirmed COVID-19 in a person who reportedly did not have relevant travel history or exposure to another known patient with COVID-19 (unknown exposure). At this time, this virus is NOT currently spreading in the community in the United States. [h=3]Illness Severity[/h]
Both MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV have been known to cause severe illness in people. The complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19 is not fully understood. Reported illnesses have ranged from mild to severe, including illness resulting in death. Learn more about the symptoms associated with COVID-19.

There are ongoing investigations to learn more. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available. [h=2]Risk Assessment[/h]
Outbreaks of novel virus infections among people are always of public health concern. The risk from these outbreaks depends on characteristics of the virus, including how well it spreads between people, the severity of resulting illness, and the medical or other measures available to control the impact of the virus (for example, vaccine or treatment medications). The fact that this disease has caused illness, including illness resulting in death, and sustained person-to-person spread is concerning. These factors meet two of the criteria of a pandemic. As community spread is detected in more and more countries, the world moves closer toward meeting the third criteria, worldwide spread of the new virus.

The potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 is high, both globally and to the United States.

But individual risk is dependent on exposure.

• For the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low.
  
• Under current circumstances, certain people will have an increased risk of infection, for example healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 and other close contacts of persons with COVID-19. CDC has developed guidance to help in the risk assessment and management of people with potential exposures to COVID-19.
  

However, it’s important to note that current global circumstances suggest it is likely that this virus will cause a pandemic. In that case, the risk assessment would be different. [h=2]What May Happen[/h]
More cases are likely to be identified in the coming days, including more cases in the United States. It’s also likely that person-to-person spread will continue to occur, including in the United States. Widespread transmission of COVID-19 in the United States would translate into large numbers of people needing medical care at the same time. Schools, childcare centers, workplaces, and other places for mass gatherings may experience more absenteeism. Public health and healthcare systems may become overloaded, with elevated rates of hospitalizations and deaths. Other critical infrastructure, such as law enforcement, emergency medical services, and transportation industry may also be affected. Health care providers and hospitals may be overwhelmed. At this time, there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19 and no medications approved to treat it. Nonpharmaceutical interventions would be the most important response strategy. [h=2]CDC Response[/h]
Global efforts at this time are focused concurrently on containing spread of this virus and mitigating the impact of this virus. The federal government is working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat. The public health response is multi-layered, with the goal of detecting and minimizing introductions of this virus in the United States so as to reduce the spread and the impact of this virus. CDC is operationalizing all of its pandemic preparedness and response plans, working on multiple fronts to meet these goals, including specific measures to prepare communities to respond local transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. There is an abundance of pandemic guidance developed in anticipation of an influenza pandemic that is being repurposed and adapted for a COVID-19 pandemic. [h=2]Highlights of CDC’s Response[/h]

• CDC established a COVID-19 Incident Management System on January 7, 2020. On January 21, CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to better provide ongoing support to the COVID-19 response.
  
• The U.S. government has taken unprecedented steps with respect to travel in response to the growing public health threat posed by this new coronavirus:
  
  
  
  • Effective February 2, at 5pm, the U.S. government suspended entry of foreign nationals who have been in China within the past 14 days.
    
  • U.S. citizens, residents, and their immediate family members who have been in Hubei province and other parts of mainland China are allowed to enter the United States, but they are subject to health monitoring and possible quarantine for up to 14 days.
    
  • CDC has issued the following travel guidance related to COVID-19:
    
    
    
    • China — Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel — updated February 22;
      
    • Hong Kong — Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions — issued February 19;
      
    • Iran — Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel — updated February 28;
      
    • Italy — Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel — updated February 28;
      
    • Japan — Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions — updated February 22;
      
    • South Korea — Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel — updated February 24.
      
    
    
    
  • CDC also recommends that all travelers reconsider cruise ship voyages into or within Asia at this time.
    
  
  
  
• CDC is issuing clinical guidance, including:
  
  
  
  • On January 30, CDC published guidance for healthcare professionals on the clinical care of COVID-19 patients.
    
  • On February 3, CDC posted guidance for assessing the potential risk for various exposures to COVID-19 and managing those people appropriately.
    
  • On February 27, CDC updated its criteria to guide evaluation of persons under investigation for COVID-19.
    
  • On February 28, CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN): Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of COVID-19.
    
  
  
  
• CDC has deployed multidisciplinary teams to support state health departments with clinical management, contact tracing, and communications.
  
• CDC has worked with the Department of State, supporting the safe return of Americans who have been stranded as a result of the ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 and related travel restrictions. CDC has worked to assess the health of passengers as they return to the United States and provided continued daily monitoring of people who are quarantined.
  
  CDC has developed a real time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) test that can diagnose COVID-19 in respiratory samples from clinical specimens. On January 24, CDC publicly posted the assay protocol for this test.
  
• On February 26, CDC and FDA developed a protocol that uses two of the three components of the original CDC test kit to detect the virus that causes COVID-19. This will allow at least 40 public health laboratories to be able to begin testing.
  
• CDC has been uploading the entire genome of the viruses from reported cases in the United States to GenBank as sequencing was completed.
  
• CDC has grown the COVID-19 virus in cell culture, which is necessary for further studies, including for additional genetic characterization. The cell-grown virus was sent to NIH’s BEI Resources Repositoryexternal icon for use by the broad scientific community.
  

[/LIST][h=2]CDC Recommends[/h]

• While the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time, everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat:
  
  
  
  • It’s currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine, taking everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed.
    
  • If you are a healthcare provider, be on the look-out for people who recently traveled from China and have fever and respiratory symptoms.
    
  • If you are a healthcare provider caring for a COVID-19 patient or a public health responder, please take care of yourself and follow recommended infection control procedures.
    
  • If you have been in China or have been exposed to someone sick with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, you will face some limitations on your movement and activity. Please follow instructions during this time. Your cooperation is integral to the ongoing public health response to try to slow spread of this virus. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, contact your healthcare provider, and tell them about your symptoms and your travel or exposure to a COVID-19 patient.
    
  • For people who are ill with COVID-19, please follow CDC guidance on how to reduce the risk of spreading your illness to others.
    
  
  
  

[h=3]Other Available Resources[/h]
The following resources are available with information on COVID-19

• U.S. Department of State China Travel Advisoryexternal icon
  
• World Health Organization, Coronavirusexternal icon
  

Page last reviewed: February 28, 2020
Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases

Here's an updated report as of 12:37 p.m. today (March 7th). It's long and covers everything.

About 3/4 of the way down the article, there's a couple paragraphs about how people mocked preppers and now others are following their lead and stock piling, seems a little late to me:


https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-07-20-intl-hnk/index.html

CDC set to loosen back-to-work guidelines for some who self-isolate, Pence says
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-cdc-guidelines-back-to-work-self-isolate/

Washington — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is about to change its guidelines for self-isolation to make it easier for those who have been exposed to someone with the new coronavirus to return to work if they are asymptomatic, Vice President Pence said Tuesday.

The public health agency, in conjunction with the White House coronavirus task force, will announce the changes Wednesday, Pence said at Tuesday's task force press briefing. ---CONTINUED---

CDC issues new guidance for essential workers exposed to coronavirus
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/cdc-issues-new-guidance-for-essential-workers-exposed-to-coronavirus/ar-BB12lOCV?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=iehp

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday issued new guidelines aimed at getting workers who have been exposed to the coronavirus in critical fields back to work faster.

Under the old guidance, workers were told to stay at home for 14 days if they were exposed to someone who had tested positive for coronavirus. ---CONTINUED---