Coronavirus: Mooresville College Student To Self-Quarantine

MOORESVILLE, NC — A North Carolina State University college student from Mooresville is voluntarily self-quarantining in her home out of caution after concerns prompted by the new coronavirus outbreak led to the abrupt suspension of her study abroad program in Italy.

© Deb Belt/Patch College student Sydney Pittman is in self-quarantine at her home in Mooresville after her study abroad program in Italy was suspended.

For 14 days, Sydney Pittman of Mooresville will be in self-quarantine — a recommendation made by NC State — after her study abroad program in Florence, Italy was abruptly suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak, she told WSOC.

As of March 5, there are 3,089 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Italy, and 107 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.

“As of right now, I’m just trying to stay inside and not expose myself to other people, just in case” she told the station.

Pittman told WSOC that she was not screened during her travels back home through Toronto and Raleigh.

“When I got back to the U.S., I flew into Raleigh. There wasn’t any — we just got our bags and left,” she said.

Earlier this week, North Carolina health officials confirmed the state’s first case of COVID-19. According to officials, the Wake County resident recently visited a long-term care facility at the center of an outbreak in Washington state that, as of Thursday, had been linked to 10 deaths.

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Globally, nearly 97,000 people have been infected and over 3,300 people have died from the new coronavirus, Johns Hopkins reported Thursday morning. Of that total, more than 80,000 cases are in China, while the entire United States has 117 confirmed cases to date.

It's caused by a member of the coronavirus that's a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses.

Background:COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, including when someone coughs or sneezes. These droplets may land on objects and surfaces. Other people may contract the virus by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days following exposure. Most people recover from the COVID-19 without needing special treatment. The elderly and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness, the health department said.

Symptoms are fever, cough, difficulty breathing and pneumonia, resulting in anything from mild respiratory issues to death.

Those who are at risk have recently traveled to China; have close, personal contact with recent travelers to China; have close, personal contact with one who has been diagnosed with the new coronavirus; or care for those who have the new coronavirus, according to health officials.

Public Health Guidance On Virus Prevention:

• Do not go to an emergency room unless absolutely essential. Those with symptoms including a cough, fever, or other respiratory issues are advised to contact their regular doctor first.
• If you are sick, stay home.
• Commit to excellent personal hygiene, including regular handwashing and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Monitor the latest information on COVID-19 in Georgia and across the United States:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Georgia Department of Public Health

Coronavirus expected to spreadPresident Donald Trump spoke about the coronavirus outbreak Saturday, urging Americans not to panic, saying, "If you are healthy, you will probably go through a process and you'll be fine," Politico reported.

Also Saturday, the White House imposed new travel restrictions, elevating travel warnings to regions of Italy and South Korea and banning travel to Iran.

The virus has been spreading so quickly overseas that infectious disease experts and scientists warn there may be no way to contain it.

Last week, a top official at the CDC said during a news conference it's only a matter of time before the new coronavirus spreads to communities across the United States. Communities, schools and businesses should begin preparing now for "the expectation that this could be bad," said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease.

What is the new coronavirus?The symptoms of the new coronavirus are similar to seasonal influenza, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Both are infectious respiratory illnesses, but they're caused by different viruses.

Both cause fever, cough, body aches and fatigue, and both can result in pneumonia. Both illnesses can sometimes cause vomiting and diarrhea and can be spread from person to person by sneezing, coughing or talking.

Common good-health practices such as frequent hand-washing, covering coughs and staying home from work or school if sick, can help control both illnesses.

Neither respond to antibiotic treatment, but both may be treated by addressing symptoms, such as reducing fever.

There is no vaccine to protect against the new coronavirus as there is against influenza. Scientists around the world are racing to find a vaccine for the new coronavirus, although none currently exists.