Coronavirus poses ‘very low risk’ in southern Colorado, local experts say

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Health experts in Colorado Springs say nearby residents likely do not have to be concerned about the novel coronavirus from China.

"We are not panicked about this," said Michele Hobbs, director of emergency services for Penrose-St. Francis Health Services. "We have a good plan in place and again, what's important is that we're screening people and asking the right questions."

With at least 11 confirmed cases of the new virus in the United States since Monday, the government and several agencies are taking extra precautions.

The Pentagon also recently announced Fort Carson may be a quarantine zone for citizens coming back from regions of China that may have been exposed to the respiratory illness.

However, Joan Strauch, an infection preventionist for Penrose-St. Francis, says residents living near the military base don't have cause for concern.

"Our military and our health departments have this whole thing very well organized," Strauch said. "They're going to be doing a lot of observations and see how these people do for 14 days. Beyond 14 days you cannot pass it any longer."

Strauch says people should only be concerned if they have recently traveled to China or know someone else who has been to the country.

"What the public really needs to know is that we're a very low-risk area," she said.

Symptoms for the novel coronavirus include a fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. Doctors advise people showing those symptoms to first contact their physician before going to the hospital for a lab test.

For now, Strauch says the best way to keep the low-risk is to wash your hands often, cover your cough and practice good hygiene.