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2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

We remain on high alert to provide our clients with the latest factual, verified information on the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.  We are appreciative of the support and actions being taken by our supplier partners to distribute information to us in an efficient and timely manner.  This information, combined with official communications from the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention is available below.

SUMMARY

UPDATED FEBRUARY 26 (STATS FROM WHO AS OF FEBRUARY 26)

  • A total of 81, 109 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) globally, including 871 new cases in the last 24 hours.
  • The number of confirmed cases is expected to continue to increase.
  • Of the global cases reported, 78, 191 cases were reported from China, with 2,718 deaths reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).
  • The remaining 2,918 cases were laboratory-confirmed in 37 other countries.
  • Of the 2,918 cases reported outside China, 86 were detected while apparently asymptomatic.
  • Among the cases identified outside of China, many were detected through entry screening implemented by some countries; symptomatic cases may be detected through temperature screening at Point of Entry, for whom medical examination and laboratory tests will be conducted for confirmation.
  • The median age of cases detected outside of China is 45 years ranging from 2 to 74 years; 71% of cases were male (as of January 27, 2020).
  • Human to human transmission has now been reported outside of China; however, the WHO is not reporting a dramatic increase in transmission outside of China.
  • On February 12, the Director of the CDC indicated the possibility of human to human transmission in the US, with a high probability of shifting towards mitigation as a public health strategy, using social distancing measures and the closure of public facilities, to limit the number of people infected.
  • The WHO continues to advise measures to limit the risk of export or import of the disease, without unnecessary restrictions on international traffic. Read more.

 

UPDATES AS OF FEBRUARY 26

  • New reported cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon, Israel, Algeria, Austria, Croatia, Switzerland, and Iran.
  • Important updates to insurance policies: Read more below or on the Industry Partner Updates document.
  • The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Warning: Avoid all nonessential travel to China, as well as a Level 2 Warning: Practice enhanced precautions for travel for Japan, Iran and Italy, and a Level 1 Warning: Practice Usual Precautions for Hong Kong.
  • CDC recommends that all travelers reconsider cruise ship voyages to or within Asia. Several destinations in Asia are experiencing outbreaks of novel coronavirus infection. Cruise ship passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases, such as the disease caused by novel coronavirus.
  • An official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on February 25 said Americans should prepare for the coronavirus causing the disease COVID-19 to spread in their communities and cause disruption after Iran, Italy and South Korea reported a rapid uptick in the number of people who have been sickened. Read more on Market Watch.
  • Israel has imposed self-quarantine regulations for those who have recently visited China: “The Ministry of Health advises all travelers who have been in China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore or Macau over the last 14 days to avoid public places, including but not limited to educational establishments, workplaces, public transportation, recreation and shopping centers, medical centers and health care clinics for 14 days from the last date of stay in the said locations (hereinafter: the incubation period).” Read more on Israel’s Health Ministry website.
  • An outbreak in Italy continues to worsen, extending beyond northern Italy to Sicily and other areas, although it appears the hotspot for the outbreak was a hospital treating an infected patient without proper protocols in place.

 

NEWS ROUND-UP

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