On 19 occasions this week AlertsUSA subscribers were notified via SMS messages to their mobile devices regarding safety and security matters. 17 of these alerts dealt with the increasingly dangerous situation with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.
Most important for this report, in the last 6 days we have seen the US State Department, and separately the CDC, both issue Level 2, then Level 3 travel notices for South Korea, Japan, and Italy, urging American citizens to reconsider travel to these countries due to widespread community transmission of the coronavirus.
State Dept Alerts - South Korea / Japan / Italy
CDC Travel Notices - South Korea / Japan / Italy
On Monday, US Forces Korea raised the risk level to "high" for USFK personnel peninsula-wide, after a US military dependent living in Daegu tested positive. On Tuesday, AlertsUSA subscribers were notified a 23 YO US soldier at based at Camp Carroll, located 20 miles northwest of Daegu, had also tested positive.
On Tuesday, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Director the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, formally stated that now is the time to begin preparing to respond to a coronavirus outbreak here in the U.S..
"I want to recognize that people are concerned about the situation. I would say rightfully so. I am concerned about the situation. CDC is concerned about the situation. But we are putting our concerns to work preparing. And now is the time for businesses, hospitals, communities, schools, and everyday people to begin preparing as well."
On Thursday, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. John Aquilino directed all vessels visiting nations in the 7th Fleet area of operations “to remain at sea for at least 14 days before pulling into another port in order to monitor sailors for any symptoms" of the coronavirus." Based in Japan, the 7th Fleet is the largest of the Navy’s numbered fleets, with up to 80 warships and submarines operating within an area of responsibility that extends from the International Dateline to the borders of India and Pakistan and south to Antarctica.
Also on Thursday, U.S. Central Command suspended leave & liberty for troops and Defense Department civilian workers within its area of responsibility over fears related to the spread of the coronavirus.
On Friday, the World Health Organization announced it had raised it's assessment of the of risk of spread and risk of impact of coronavirus on a global level from HIGH to "VERY HIGH."
SEPERATE THE SIGNAL FROM THE NOISE
AlertsUSA urges readers try to blank out the dramatic politicization of this crisis and consider all that the U.S. and foreign governments have been doing in response to the spread of the new virus. From locking down nearly 10% of the world's population in areas across Asia and Europe, to banning entry of individuals with a recent travel history to different regions, to keeping ships at sea, to canceling leave & liberty for military service members, to mandatory quarantines, to the shuttering of businesses and manufacturing operations across entire nations, etc... Does anyone really think these global actions are all being done because of something akin to the flu, a case of the sniffles, or to cause a President to stumble?
As with every other nation, while certain aspects of the U.S. government response to this crisis has been fumbled, including the botched development of a reliable test for the virus, much of the response is going right, and there are significant efforts underway, both seen and unseen, in order to protect the homeland and U.S. citizens.
AlertsUSA strongly encourages readers to use use these broader governmental actions, as well as those actions of other nations around the world, as your cue prepare yourself, your family, place of worship and any business interests, for the possibility that the virus has a greater impact here in North America.
OFFICIAL CASE NUMBERS
World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control (U.S.)
Johns Hopkins CSSE (Interactive map updated multiple times daily)
WHO RISK OF SPREAD & IMPACT ASSESSMENT
China Very High
Regional Level Very High
Global Level Very High
EMERGING DRUG SHORTAGES
About 90% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) used by U.S. companies in drug manufacturing come from China. This includes most of the generics Americans use on a regular basis. Antibiotics and blood pressure meds could be among the most vulnerable in any supply chain disruption. This week, the Food and Drug Administration reported the first shortage of a drug due to the outbreak.
NOW is the time to speak to your doctor and request a multiple-month prescription for any key meds upon which you are dependent (most insurance plans cover up to 3 months). You will end up using it anyhow, so the prudent move would be to assure critical items are on hand.
PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS RESOURCES
Official Coronavirus Information Pages:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Food and Drug Administration
Public Health Agency of Canada
Infection Prevention and Control Canada
World Health Organization
Official Pandemic Preparedness Guidance:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Department of Homeland Security / Ready.Gov
World Health Organization
Assorted Resources
(While some of the resources below were prepared for pandemic influenza, the broader guidance contain therein is directly applicable to the current coronavirus crisis).
Community Mitigation Guidelines to Prevent Pandemic Influenza
Fundamentals of Emergency Planning for Schools
Healthcare Systems Preparedness for COVID-19
Pub Health Guidance for Community-Level Preparedness & Response (SARS)
Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
Faith-based & Community Org. Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist
WHO Checklist for Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Planning
Get Your Workplace Ready for Pandemic Flu
Dept of Defense Coronavirus Response Page
DHS Supplemental Instructions For Inbound Flights
View Last Week's Issue
Additional Coronavirus News Items
CDC Coronavirus Face Mask Beard Guide
Schools closed, events canceled at overseas US bases as virus spreads
Coronavirus May Explode in U.S. Overnight Just Like in Italy
Three scenarios if the COVID-19 outbreak gets worse
Coronavirus Precautions: Hundreds In NY Asked To Isolate Themselves
California is monitoring at least 8,400 people for the coronavirus
World harshens its virus response as epidemic worsens by day
Schools shut, travel curbed as world races to fight coronavirus
Deadly virus could infect 80% of Brits and kill 500K in ‘worst case scenario
Covid-19 Infects Iranian Vice President, Kills Iran Ambassador To Vatican
Saudi Arabia suspends entry for Hajj pilgrimage over coronavirus fears
World prepares for coronavirus pandemic; global recession forecast
AlertsUSA continues to monitor the domestic and international threat environment around the clock and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages to their mobile devices, of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant.
