2019-nCoV Updates

Media Inqueries

Karen Teber
GUMC Senior Director of Communications
km463@georgetown.edu

Human coronaviruses are a type of virus and are common throughout the world. Scientists know of seven different coronaviruses that can infect people and make them sick. Common human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses similar to the common cold. Most people get infected with these viruses at some point in their lives and these illnesses usually only last for a short amount of time.

However, two of these known human coronaviruses, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV have been known to cause severe symptoms including death.

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was identified as the cause of an outbreak of a respiratory illness in Wuhan, China. In the subsequent weeks, the virus has spread to 24 countries in five different regions of the world, and there are now more than 17,250 confirmed cases (a person with laboratory confirmation of 2019-nCoV infection).

We fully expect to see additional cases in the United States, and potentially in the Washington, DC region. We also fully expect to see all cases and close contacts carefully monitored.

For the most up to date information on nCoV-2019, please see:

References

Center staff are writing on the outbreak:

Phelan AL, Katz R, Gostin LO. The Novel Coronavirus Originating in Wuhan, China: Challenges for Global Health Governance. JAMA; 2020. DOI:10.1001/jama.2020.1097.

Experts in the Media

Center staff have been helping to educate the public on the outbreak.  Below are links to Center staff quoted in the press:

Mother Jones
Let Us Count the Ways the Trump Administration Is Underprepared to Tackle the Coronavirus, feat. Rebecca Katz, 30 Jan 2020

Bloomberg News
Escalating Outbreak Heaps Pressure on World Health Watchdog, feat. Rebecca Katz, 29 Jan 2020

National Geographic
To many Chinese, wildlife markets are a cultural outlier, feat. Erin Sorrell, 29 Jan 2020

Travel + Leisure
What Travelers Need to Know About the Coronavirus, According to a Doctor and Public Health Expert, feat. Rebecca Katz, 28 Jan 2020

Think Global Health
Why Global Governance of Disease Matters for the Emergence of a Novel Coronavirus, feat. Alexandra Phelan & Rebecca Katz, 28 Jan 2020

The Guardian
The disease always gets a head start: how to handle an epidemic, feat. Alexandra Phelan & Rebecca Katz, 28 Jan 2020

Vox
Did China downplay the coronavirus outbreak early on?, feat. Alexandra Phelan, 27 Jan 2020

Los Angeles Times
Should you panic about the coronavirus from China? Here’s what the experts say, feat. Rebecca Katz, 24 Jan 2020

The Atlantic
A Historic Quarantine, feat. Alexandra Phelan, 24 Jan 2020

The Warcast Podcast
Coronavirus in Wuhan: Public Health and Security Implications, feat. Erin Sorrell, 23 Jan 2020

MedPage Today
WHO: Novel Coronavirus Not a ‘Global’ Health Emergency Yet, feat. Rebecca Katz, 23 Jan 2020

Scientific American
WHO Declines to Declare China Virus Outbreak a Global Health Emergency, feat. Alexandra Phelan, 24 Jan 2020

Vox
The coronavirus outbreak is not yet a global health emergency, WHO says, feat. Alexandra Phelan, 23 Jan 2020

STAT
WHO declines to declare China virus outbreak a global health emergency, feat. Alexandra Phelan, 23 Jan 2020

Daily Briefing
‘A state of war’: Officials quarantine Chinese cities as cases of new coronavirus soar, feat. Rebecca Katz, 23 Jan 2020

BuzzFeed
China Has Quarantined The Cities Near The Center Of The Coronavirus Outbreak, feat. Rebecca Katz, 23 Jan 2020

Washington Post
U.S. readiness for a viral outbreak has improved, but there’s a long way to go feat. Alexandra Phelan, 22 Jan 2020

Science
Deadlocked WHO panel puts off decision on global virus alarm, feat. Alexandra Phelan, 22 Jan 2020

MedPage Today
First Case of Coronavirus Lands in U.S., feat. Julie Fischer, 21 Jan. 2020

Los Angeles Times
Chinese coronavirus outbreak has reached U.S. shores, CDC says, feat. Rebecca Katz, 21 Jan 2020

NBC News
1st case of coronavirus from China confirmed in U.S., feat. Alexandra Phelan, 21 Jan 2020

CNBC
China confirms some 140 new cases of Sars-like virus ahead of peak travel season, feat. Alexandra Phelan, 20 Jan 2020

CGTV
What is behind the spread of the virus?, feat. Alexandra Phelan, 20 Jan 2020

CNBC
Shares of Chinese drugmakers and face mask firms jump as pneumonia concerns mount, feat. Alexandra Phelan, 20 Jan 2020

CNBC
Number of Wuhan cases expected to increase over Chinese New Year, feat. Alexandra Phelan, 19 Jan 2020

ABC (Australia)
China reports new virus cases, raising concern globally before busy Chinese New Year travel period, feat. Alexandra Phelan, 17 Jan 2020

New York Times (via Reuters)
China Reports New Virus Cases, Raising Concern Globally Before Key Holiday, feat. Alexandra Phelan, 17 Jan 2020

Los Angeles Times
Coronavirus screenings to begin at LAX, two other U.S. airports amid outbreak in China, feat. Alexandra Phelan, 17 Jan 2020

Additional Resources

Georgetown University Coronavirus Website
U.S. CDC – What to Do if You Are Sick with 2019-nCoV (pdf)
Chinese CDC Distribution of Coronavirus Associated Pneumonia Website
WHO Global Surveillance for human infection with novel coronavirus
2019-nCoV Zotero Group
Information Submission for Zotero nCoV Library

Last Updated: 03 Feb 2020