CDC increases coronavirus screenings to 20 airports

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State Department today announced coronavirus (2019-nCoV) screenings at 20 U.S. airports, up from five. CDC yesterday raised their travel guidance to Level 3 — avoid all nonessential travel to China. “Americans should know that this is a potentially a very serious public health threat, but at this point Americans should not worry for their own safety,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said today. The World Health Organization also announced today that, after several attempts, China has agreed to allow international experts into the country to increase understanding of the virus, which has killed over 100 and infected more than 4,500 people. CDC has confirmed five travel-related U.S. cases, with 110 individuals across 26 states under investigation. Nancy Messonnier, M.D., director of CDC’s Center for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, reiterated that the risk to the general public is low and that a real-time diagnostic test should roll out to states in the next two weeks. For more information and resources, visit AHA's coronavirus update page. CDC urges health care providers to follow its interim guidance for evaluating patients and recommendations for infection control and will host a call for clinicians Friday at 2 p.m. ET.