Novel Coronavirus Update

To: The Wellesley Community
From: Dr. Jennifer Schwartz, Medical Director of Health Services and Sports Medicine
Re: Novel Coronavirus Update
Date: January 24, 2020

As we prepare for the return of students to campus this weekend and the start of the spring semester, we have been keeping a close eye on the developing news about a new coronavirus, called 2019-nCoV, which was first reported in late December 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.

The disease is believed to have originated in a live animal market, and Chinese officials have confirmed that it is transmissible person-to-person. The situation has been evolving since December, with some deaths associated with the virus in China. Cases have been reported in several cities in the Asia-Pacific region, and earlier this week, the first U.S. case was reported in Washington state.

There has been no person diagnosed with 2019-nCoV in the Boston area, including at Wellesley College. As the medical director of Health Services and sports medicine, I am working closely with the Boston Public Health Commission, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the infectious disease department at Newton-Wellesley Hospital to continue to monitor the situation.

Out of an abundance of caution, I want to share more information about this new coronavirus and the steps we are taking on campus to address this.

Coronavirus symptoms 

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause respiratory symptoms ranging from a mild cough or runny nose to more significant shortness of breath and even pneumonia. Severe symptoms and complications are more common in patients with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, or individuals who are immunocompromised.

The common cold is actually a type of coronavirus, and thus many of the symptoms are similar to that which the cold or flu might present.

• Students who are experiencing these symptoms AND have traveled in Wuhan since December OR have had close contact with someone who has traveled in this region for 14 days prior to symptom onset should report to Health Services immediately (781.283.2810).
  
• Faculty or staff who are experiencing symptoms and have traveled to the region or have had close contact with someone who has traveled in this region for 14 days prior to symptom onset should contact their primary care physician.

How to stay healthy

Given that it is cold and flu season, many of the precautions you can take to prevent illness in general are highly recommended:

• Wash your hands often.
• Avoid sharing food and personal care items.
• Clean high-touch surfaces daily.
• Wash laundry regularly on hot.
• Stay home or in your room when you are sick, and avoid contact with others who may be sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with tissues or the crook of your arm, then wash your hands.
• Get plenty of rest, hydrate, and eat healthily.
• Monitor your temperature and symptoms.

• Consult with a doctor prior to travel if you have any health-related concerns.
• Avoid traveling while sick (traveling with a fever from an unrelated condition could result in increased screenings and other travel issues).
• Expect additional screenings at airports and transit hubs, and allow for extra travel time.
• Minimize travel in the Asia-Pacific region, if possible, between January 21 and February 3 due to the Lunar New Year holidays, a busy travel period during which the virus could spread further throughout China and other countries in the area.