The Maui News

The risk for introduction of the novel coronavirus in Hawaii is low, but state Health Department officials are advising people not to travel to China.

“Various areas in China have been placed under quarantine by the Chinese government, and travel within the country is either completely prohibited or significantly curtailed to prevent the spread of this disease,” said Health Director Bruce Anderson in a news release Wednesday.

There are no cases of the coronavirus nCoV in Hawaii, the Health Department said.

The novel coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, and there are more than 9,692 cases confirmed in China and in at least 17 countries. This includes 213 deaths in China. There have been at least five cases in the U.S. of people who traveled to Wuhan or other areas in China with one case of person-to-person spread of the virus in the U.S., the Health Department said.

Hawaii is a major travel destination so “planning and preparing for possible outbreaks is an ongoing activity,” Anderson said.

“The emergence of the 2019 coronavirus in Wuhan and its potential to spread to areas outside of China poses an increased threat to travelers and Hawaii residents, and we’ve ramped up our efforts,” he said.

Among the actions taken by the Health Department are issuing a medical advisory to ensure health care providers are aware of the situation and health procedures, monitoring the state respiratory disease surveillance system and collaborating and communicating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and travel partners.

The Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu is one of 20 airports nationwide actively screening incoming passengers from Wuhan and has a quarantine station under federal authority, the Health Department said.

People who have become sick after travel to China, particularly Hubei Province, are advised to:

• Seek medical care right away. Before going to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about recent travel and symptoms.

• Stay home, except for seeking medical care; avoid contact with others.

• Do not travel while sick.

• Cover mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not hands) when coughing or sneezing.

• Wash hands often with clean soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Everyone also should get vaccinated for influenza.

The Health Department is continually updating its website to provide information as it evolves. The website is health.hawaii.gov/docd/advisories/novel-coronavirus-2019/.

Other sites for information are: health.hawaii.gov/docd/advisories/novel-coronavirus-2019/, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html and wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/novel-coronavirus-china.