Jefferson County Health Department officials say they are prepared if anyone in the county tests positive for the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
However, the flu is a higher threat to county residents right now, the officials said.
“We are still considered a low risk for community transmission for coronavirus at this time,” said Jeana Vidacak, public health preparedness coordinator for the Health Department.
As of Tuesday, no cases of coronavirus had been reported in Missouri, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, in the U.S., there had been 60 cases of the coronavirus reported across 12 states, including in Illinois and Wisconsin, according to the CDC.
In addition, there had been nine deaths linked to the coronavirus, all in Washington, according to health officials.
Vidacak said symptoms of the coronavirus are similar to flu symptoms.
According to the CDC, symptoms, which may range from mild to severe, include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure.
Vidacak said, just like with the flu, people should take precautions to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
“Wash your hands; cough into your elbow,” she said. “If you’re not feeling well, stay home from work or school.”
While it’s important to be aware of the coronavirus, Vidacak said Jefferson Countians have a higher risk of contracting the flu.
“We’re still in the flu season and that is really still our biggest concern,” she said.
If the county sees a positive case of coronavirus, the Health Department would handle the case like any other disease, Vidacak said.
“Even though it’s new, it’s the exact same process that we do every day with all kinds of other different pathogens,” she said. “For us, it really is normal operations. I mean, this is new; we’re learning about it as we go, but our process is the same for any other or any other investigation we do.”
Vidacak said information about a positive test result of any disease, like measles or the coronavirus, is reported to the Health Department by local providers or by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
“Our role is to look at that case and kind of go out from there to see who that person had contact with,” she said.
Vidacak said the Health Department has a team of three people who are available 24 hours a day if a positive case is reported.
The team includes Vidacak, epidemiologist Dylan Steigerwald and public health investigative nurse Tara Edmond.
“Our role as public health, in any sort of outbreak, we do investigation and surveillance,” she said. “So, we do this on a daily basis with all kinds of different diseases.”