On Tuesday, U.S. health authorities said they ultimately expect the new coronavirus to spread in the United States.
And they urge local governments, businesses and schools to develop plans such as canceling public events or moving to remote work.
Officials are also concerned that the outbreak poses a threat to the security of the US drug supply chain, as a significant proportion of the ingredients used to make drugs are produced in China, where the virus was first discovered.
“Ultimately we expect to see the virus spread in the United States,” Nancy Messonnier, a senior official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said during the briefing.
“The question is not so much whether it will happen, but when exactly it will happen and how many people will get sick.”
Comments have noted a significant rise in the level of threat transmitted to the US public amid fears of a pandemic as the disease has taken root in several countries outside of China, including Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
COVID-19 has killed more than 2,600 people and infected nearly 80,000, mainly in China. To date, 57 cases have been reported in the United States.
In the absence of a vaccine or any form of treatment for COVID-19, authorities rely on non-drug interventions.
'For schools, options include dividing students into smaller groups or closing schools and using distance learning.'
“For adults, businesses can replace face-to-face meetings with video and conference calls and expand telecommuting opportunities,” she continued, adding that on a wider scale, cities may need to cancel mass gatherings.
Sources: Agence France-Presse, Photo: (NIAID / Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
