The World Health Organization (WHO) says , ‘Not enough is known about 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) to draw definitive conclusions about how it is transmitted, clinical features of disease, or the extent to which it has spread. The source also remains unknown’

1. Interim Health advisory on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus
(2019-nCoV)
The World Health Organization (WHO) says , ‘Not enough is known about 2019 Novel Coronavirus
(2019-nCoV) to draw definitive conclusions about how it is transmitted, clinical features of disease, or
the extent to which it has spread. The source also remains unknown’
The following information is based upon interim draft guidelines and is subject to change as and when
newer recent information is received.
According to WHO, a new type of coronavirus (2019 novel coronavirus, nCoV) has been identified in
China on 7 January 2020. The cluster of patientswith pneumonia - like - illness was initially reported on
31 December 2019.
What is the nCoV ?
Coronaviruses are a family of respiratory viruses, named for the crown-like spikes on their surface.
Coronaviruses can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to the Middle-East Respiratory
Syndrome and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The Novel coronavirus, nCoV is a new
strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans. They are notorious for mutating
quickly and acquiring new qualities.
What are the Symptoms and Signs of infection with Novel
coronavirus, nCoV ?
The symptoms reported are mainly fever, with a few having difficulty in breathing. Chest Xrays are
showing invasive pneumonic infiltrates in both lungs. This cannot be differentiated from other
respiratory infections excepting a history of travel to affected geographical area.
What is the course of Illness ?
As of now, more than 41 cases with novel coronavirus infection have been preliminarily diagnosed in
Wuhan City of China. Of the 41 cases reported, two deaths have been reported and at least one of the
patient had other underlying health conditions. While seven are severely ill, six patients have been
discharged from hospital. Cases have been identified in countries such as Japan , Thailand and USA .The
risk of cases being reported form elsewhere is increased, especially considering heavy population
movements during the Chinese New Year in the last week of January.
How is the infection transmitted ?
The transmission potential and modes of transmission as of now remain largely unclear. The evidence is
highly suggestive that the outbreak is associated with exposures in one seafood market in Wuhan. Most

2. of the cases affected worked at or were handlersand frequent visitors to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale
Market. Preliminary epidemiology also suggests an animal source and thus a zoonotic disease .At this
stage, there is no clear evidence but high suspicion of limited human to human transmission of infection.
No case has been reported as yet among healthcare workers.
What are the criteria for Evaluationof Patients Under
Investigation (PUI) for 2019-nCoV (Source- CDC 2020) ?
 Fever And SymptomsOf Lower RespiratoryIllness(E.G., Cough, Difficulty Breathing)And In The Last
14 Days Before Symptom Onset, A History Of Travel From Wuhan City, China
 In The Last 14 Days Before Symptom Onset, Close Contact With A Person Who Is Under Investigation
For 2019-NCoVWhile That Person Was Ill.
 Fever Or Symptoms Of Lower RespiratoryIllness(E.G., Cough, Difficulty Breathing)And In The Last
14 Days, Close Contact With An Ill Laboratory-Confirmed 2019-NCoVPatient.
Fever may not be present in some patients, such as those who are very young, elderly,
immunosuppressed, or taking certain fever-lowering medications. Clinical judgment should be used to
guide testing of patients in such situations.
Close contact is defined as—
a) being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters), or within the room or care area, of a novel coronavirus
case for a prolonged period of time while not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (e.g.,
gowns, gloves, N95 respirator, eye protection). Close contact can include caring for, living with, visiting,
or sharing a health care waiting area or room with a novel coronavirus case.
or b) having direct contact with infectious secretions of a novel coronavirus case (e.g., being coughed
on) while not wearingappropriate personal protective equipment.
Travel Advisory
General preventive measures to be practiced while travelling in or from China:
 Observe Good Personal Hygiene
 Namaste Works Best To Avoid Hand Contact
 Practice Frequent Hand WashingWith Soap
 Follow RespiratoryEtiquette .The Components Of RespiratoryHygiene/Cough Etiquette Are:
o Practice Frequent Hand-Hygiene At All Times
o Keep At Arm’sLength / Maintain A Distance Of Minimum 3 Feet From A Person Who IsSneezing
Or Coughing

3. o Cough Or Sneeze IntoThe Inside Of Elbow Or Arms, Not Hands .
o Whenever Possible, Use Disposable Tissues To Cover Your Cough And Cold.
o Discard The Used TissuesImmediatelyIntoAn Appropriate Waste Bin And Practice Hand
Hygiene .
o Offer A Surgical Mask To Person Who Is CoughingOr Sneezing
 Avoid Close Contact With People Who Are Unwell Or ShowingSymptoms Of Illness,Such As
 Cough, RunnyNose Etc.
 Avoid Contact With Live AnimalsAnd Consumption Of Raw/Undercooked Meats
 Avoid Travel To Farms,Live Animal Markets Or Where AnimalsAre Slaughtered
 Wear A Mask If You Have RespiratorySymptomsSuch AsCough Or RunnyNose
All travelers to China (in particular Wuhan city) to monitor
their health closely.
If you feel sick and have fever and cough:
 Cover Your Mouth While CoughingOr Sneezing
 Don’t Plan Travels If Sick
 Seek Medical Attention Promptly
If you feel sick on the flight, while traveling back to India:
 Inform The AirlinesCrew About Illness
 Seek Mask From The AirlinesCrew
 Avoid Close Contact With FamilyMembersOr Fellow Travelers
 Follow The Directions Of Airline Crew While Disembarking
If you feel sick on flight or at the time of disembarkation:
 Report To Airport Health Authorities/Immigration.
 Special Counters Are BeingOpened In Delhi, Kolkata And Mumbai Airports
 Follow The Direction Of The Airport Health Officer
If you feel sick with in a span of one month after return from China:
 Report The IllnessTo The Nearest Health FacilityAnd Also Inform The Treating Doctor Regarding
Your Travel History
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Treatment is mainly
symptomatic and supportive, based on the patient’s clinical condition. As of now, there is no vaccine
available.

4. Precautions for Household Members to patients with Suspected / Confirmed Patients with 2019-
nCoV Infection/ Respiratory Symptoms
 Wash Your HandsOften And Thoroughly With Soap And Water For At Least 20 Seconds.
 Use An Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer If Soap And Water Are Not Available And IfYour Hands Are Not
Visibly Dirty.
 Avoid Touching Your Eyes, Nose, And Mouth With Unwashed Hands.
 For ProvidingCare At Home, Have Only The Essential People In The Home .Other Household
MembersShould StayIn Another Home, IfPossible / Another Room / Be Separated From The Person
As Much As Possible.
 Use A Separate Bathroom, If Available.
 Restrict Visitors Who Do Not Have An Essential Need To Be In The Home.
 Keep Elderly People / Those Who Have Compromised Immune Systems/Chronic Health Conditions -
Heart, LungOr KidneyConditions, And DiabetesAway From The Person.
 Keep A Window Open Or Let The Air Conditioner Be On
 Wear A Disposable Facemask, Gown, When You Touch Or Have Contact With The Person’s Blood,
Body FluidsAnd/Or Secretions - Sweat, Saliva, Sputum, Nasal Mucus, Vomit, Urine, Or Diarrhea And
Gloves When Required
 Discard Used Facemasks,Gowns,And Gloves After Use And Wash HandsImmediately
 Do Not Share Towels, EatingUtensils Dishes, Drinking Glasses, Cups, Bedding, Or Other ItemsWith
The Suspected Patient.
 Wash Thoroughly With Soap And Water After Use.
 Clean All “High-Touch”Surfaces, Such As Counters, Tabletops, Doorknobs, Bathroom Fixtures,
Toilets, Phones, Keyboards,Tablets,And Bedside Tables, Every Day.
 Also, Clean Any Surfaces That May Have Blood, Body FluidsAnd/Or Secretions Or ExcretionsOn
Them. 15. Use Diluted Bleach Solution - To Make A Bleach Solution At Home, Add 1 Tablespoon Of
Bleach To 4 CupsOf Water Or ¼ Cup Of Bleach To 16 CupsOf Water
 Monitor Your Health StartingFrom The Day You First Had Close Contact With The Person And
Continue For 14 Days After You Last Had Close Contact With The Person. . Take Your Temperature
Twice A Day. Be Alert To Coughing, ShortnessOf Breath ,Chills, BodyAches, Sore Throat, Headache,
Diarrhea, Nausea/Vomiting, And RunnyNose .
There is NOREASON TO PANIC. Please follow Indian National guidelinesfrom NCDC or MOHFW, Govt. of
India and State Government guidelines as and when they are available. Hand Hygiene and respiratory
etiquette seem to be the containment strategy as of now.
References: 1. CDC https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/index.html 2020 2. MOHFW, Govt. of India Novel
Corona Outbreak in China- Travel advisory for travelers visiting China
https://mohfw.gov.in/media/disease-alerts

5. Strictlyrestricted material, changingscenario of the outbreak, no references to be quoted, only readable
i.e. WHO 2020.