Interim US guidance for risk assessment and public health management of persons with potential coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure in travel-associated or community settings

Updated February 8, 2020CDC is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (named by the World Health Organization as \u201cCOVID-19\u201d) that was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China and which continues to expand. Chinese health officials have reported thousands of infections with COVID-19 in China, with the virus reportedly spreading from person-to-person in many parts of that country. Infections with COVID-19, most of them associated with travel from Wuhan, also are being reported in a growing number of international locations, including the United States. The first confirmed instance of person-to-person spread of COVID-19 in the United States with this virus was reported on January 30, 2020.Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in humans and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with SARS, MERS, and likely now with COVID-19.Current knowledge on how COVID-19 spreads is based on what is known about early COVID-19 cases and what is known about similar coronaviruses. Most often, spread from person-to-person happens during close exposure to a person infected with COVID-19. Person-to-person spread is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, similar to how influenza viruses and other respiratory pathogens spread. These droplets can land in the mouths, noses, or eyes of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. It is currently unclear if a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyesBackground -- Purpose -- Definitions Used in this Guidance -- Exposure Risk Categories -- Recommendations for Exposure Risk Management -- Travelers from China -- Crews on Passenger or Cargo Flights -- Workplaces -- People with Confirmed COVID-19 and Symptomatic People Under Investigation for COVID-19 -- Contacts of Asymptomatic People Exposed to COVID-19.2020738