MEDICAL ADVISORY: Novel Coronavirus (2019 -nCoV) Update and Resource

Issued by:  Gayane Hovhannisyan, MD, MPH, PhD, FRCPC, Acting Associate Medical Officer of Health 

Situation Update

• World Health Organization (WHO) panel declared the ongoing coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Thursday January 30, 2020
• This declaration will most likely result in travel restrictions

 New Ministry of Health Guidance Document

• On January 28, 2020, the Ministry of Health released an initial guidance document for Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) for Primary Care Providers in a Community Setting
• There is a change to the case definition that should be highlighted with your staff: travel to Wuhan, China, or being in close contact to someone who has travelled to Wuhan, China is now expanded to “Travel to/from Hubei Province, China in the past 14 days before the onset of illness.”
• All primary care settings should undertake active screening (asking questions) and passive screening (signage) of patients for 2019-nCoV
• Patients should be screened over the phone before scheduling appointments
• Only primary care providers who can safely use and have access to N95 respirators (e.g. fit tested, training, procedures, supplies), should conduct detailed clinical assessment, examination, and testing (as indicated) on their clinics
• The primary care provider should contact Public Health to report the suspect case and discuss the most appropriate setting for testing Case

Definition (Updated): Fever and/or acute respiratory illness or pneumonia AND any of the following:

• Travel to/from Hubei Province, China in the past 14 days before the onset of illness OR
• Close contact with a confirmed or probable case of 2019-nCoV OR
• Close contact with a person with acute respiratory illness who has been to/from Hubei Province, China in the past 14 days

Posters and Signage

Infection Prevention and Control posters and signage to support screening of patients and visitors for your clinical office can also be ordered or printed from the Niagara Region Public Health & Emergency Services health care professionals’ webpage under "Infectious Diseases" and "Infection Prevention and Control".

For further information, please contact Niagara Region Public Health & Emergency Services, Infectious Disease program at 1-888-505-6074 or 905-688-8248 ext. 7330  Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., after hours 905-984-3690.