Pennsylvania health department officials say 'coronavirus threat remains low'

While China has accused the U.S. of causing panic in its response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is doing what it can to keep residents calm.

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine reminded Pennsylvanians Monday that the threat from coronavirus remains low. There have been 11 confirmed cases in the United States, but there currently are no confirmed cases in the Keystone State.

“We are in constant communication with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and are prepared to respond in the case that someone in Pennsylvania tests positive for coronavirus,” Levine said. “Remember, you are much more likely to become sick with the cold or flu than to be diagnosed with coronavirus.”

Since October, there have been more than 45,000 diagnosed cases of flu and 33 deaths in Pennsylvania, according to Levine

As the Wolf Administration and the Department of Health continue to monitor the outbreak occurring in China and cases in the U.S., the administration emphasized that Asian American/Pacific Islander individuals are at no higher risk of carrying coronavirus than any other individual.

“Too often, national security and public health crises have led to the demonization of particular groups of people, and we are committed to ensuring that that does not happen here,” said Mohan Seshadri, executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs.

The coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China in December 2019. The majority of cases have occurred in China, but have also spread to other countries, most of them associated with travel from Wuhan.

While originally thought to be spreading from animal-to-person, information shows there is some person-to-person spread occurring.

Symptoms of the coronavirus can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people becoming severely ill and dying.

The health department says people with symptoms who have traveled to China in the last 14 days, or have come into direct contact with someone who has, should seek medical care immediately. Symptoms include fever, cough and difficulty breathing.