Health officials are currently investigating and responding to an outbreak of respiratory illness centered in China caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has named the disease associated with this virus coronavirus disease 2019 or “COVID-19.” This virus is able to spread from person-to-person and has been detected in countries outside of China, including the United States.
No cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Pima County at this time.
COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus that not been previously found in people before.
COVID-19 is not caused by the same coronavirus that causes
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). However, it is in the same family of viruses.
This is a rapidly evolving situation and the risk assessment for Pima County may change. More information will be provided when it is available.
Arizona Dept. of Health Services Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19
Learn more about 2019-nCoV on the CDC: 2019 Novel Coronavirus website.
If you have NOT recently traveled to China...
There are currently no vaccines to prevent COVID-19. The best ways to prevent many illnesses that spread from person-to-person, including coronaviruses, are to:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
If you have recently traveled to China...
- Anyone who recently traveled to China AND experiences fever, cough, or other acute illness should isolate themselves from others and immediately contact a health care provider (doctor, hospital, clinic) or the Pima County Health Dept. Any person, including healthcare workers, who has had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed 2019-nCoV patient within 14 days AND experiences fever, cough, or other symptoms should also isolate themselves from others and immediately isolate themselves and contact a health care provider or the Pima County Health Department.
- Please call ahead and inform the health care provider about your symptoms and travel history.
If you are planning travel to China...
The CDC has issued a travel warning to avoid all unnecessary travel to China during the outbreak. Chinese officials have closed some airports and transportation in and out of certain areas has been greatly restricted. Chinese health officials have reported thousands of cases in China and severe illness has been reported, including deaths. Cases have also been identified in travelers to other countries, including the United States. This virus can spread from person-to-person. Review CDC's Travel Health Notices if you are traveling to China.
Review CDC's Travel Health Notices if you are traveling to China.
Arizona clinicians are asked to:
- Mask and isolate patients presenting with acute respiratory illness and recent travel from Wuhan City, China in the last 14 days. Isolation should take place in an airborne isolation room, if available.
- Immediately notify your healthcare facility’s infection control personnel and Pima County Health Department.
- Healthcare personnel encountering a suspect patient should use standard precautions, contact precautions, airborne precautions, and use eye protection (e.g., goggles or a face shield).
- Obtain a detailed travel history for patients being evaluated with fever and acute respiratory illness.
- Consider testing for seasonal respiratory illnesses, like influenza.
- Coordinate with Pima County Health Department for specimen collection, transport, and testing for suspect cases.
The Arizona Department of Health Services and local health departments are coordinating surveillance and communication with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding COVID-19.
For the most up-to-date information on the outbreak please visit the CDC's website for the Novel Coronavirus 2019 currently being monitored.
Healthcare Provider Guidance - ADHS
Interim Guidance for Healthcare Professionals - CDC
Interim Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations - CDC
Infection Prevention and Control During Health Care When Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) Infection is Suspected - WHO
If there is not a clear emergency requiring emergency services, it is preferable to have the person pre-evaluated by public health officials in the location where they reside. If possible, it may be preferable to arrange for private vehicle transport instead of using emergency medical services. Note: Local travel by private vehicle is only permissible if the symptomatic person is wearing a facemask.
All EMS and other healthcare personnel should take
standard precautions,
contact precautions,
airborne precautions, and use eye protection (e.g. goggles or face shield) when in contact with a person under investigation for COVID-19.
If a patient suspected to be exposed to COVID-19 is arriving via transport by emergency medical services (EMS), the ambulance attendant should contact the receiving emergency department (ED) or healthcare facility to allow the healthcare facility to prepare for receipt of the patient.
Patient Management Precautions:
- When possible, mask patients as soon as possible if they report recent travel to China.
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Ideally, patients should be evaluated in a private space with minimal contact with others.
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Immediately notify your chain of command. Response agencies should notify the Health Department if they have a patient who reports travel to China in the past 14 days AND is exhibiting symptoms like fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
- The number of EMS and hospital personnel should be limited to those providing essential care services to minimize potential exposures.
For more information, visit CDC’s
Interim Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients Under Investigation for 2019 Novel Coronavirus.
As additional information is available, the Department will post up-to-date resources from the CDC, ASPR, and NHTSA and on the
EMS website.
There is no current evidence of the spread of COVID-19 locally.
We do know that viruses like coronaviruses can be killed by following very simple cleaning procedures. If your personal of organization's cleaning procedures meet or exceed these recommendations, most commonly circulating viruses and bacteria can be eliminated:
- Clean all “high-touch” surfaces, such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables, every day.
- Be sure to clean any surfaces that may have blood, body fluids and/or secretions or excretions on them.
- Read label of cleaning products and follow recommendations provided on product labels. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves or aprons and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
- Use a diluted bleach solution or a household disinfectant with a label that says “EPA-approved.”
- To make a bleach solution at home, add 1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 quart (4 cups) of water. For a larger supply, add ¼ cup of bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) of water.