COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) January 2020 updates
These news stories have not been updated since the dates shown. Information contained in this post is here for reference only. Please see MIT Medical's most recent post for up-to-date information for the MIT community about COVID-19. (Coronavirus Disease 2019).
January 31, 2020: While new evidence indicates that people who are infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) may become contagious before symptoms are noticeable, neither the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) nor WHO (World Health Organization) have changed their recommendations regarding the treatment of asymptomatic individuals who may have been exposed to 2019 n-CoV while traveling.
MIT and MIT Medical are closely monitoring the situation and will promptly implement any new recommendations. However, at this point, MIT is not recommending quarantine or isolation for any member of our community, nor is it necessary for MIT Medical to “clear” individuals returning from affected areas before they are allowed to go to work or school.
If you have traveled from China within the last 14 days, you should continue to be vigilant about monitoring yourself for fever and lower respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. However, not all affected individuals will exhibit all symptoms, and if you have any symptoms at all, call MIT Medical right away at 617-253-4865.
See our updated Coronavirus FAQ for more information.
January 30, 2020: MIT Medical has posted an FAQ (frequently asked questions) with the most up-to-date information for the MIT community on the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 n-CoV). Existing questions and answers will be updated as new information becomes available, and new questions and answers will be added as appropriate.
January 29, 2020: As the new semester begins, many students, faculty, staff, and other members of the MIT community will be returning to campus, some from travels abroad. MIT Medical has received a number of questions — from travelers and others — about how MIT is handling individuals who are returning from areas affected by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Our answers, and other information in this update, are based on current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Cambridge Department of Public Health.
Healthy individuals with no symptoms of the novel coronavirus should go about their daily routines as usual. They should go to work, classes, and labs, and take part in their other normal activities. There is no need for MIT Medical to “clear” individuals before they are allowed to go to work or school. Researchers from the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) are continuing to study 2019-NCoV, but to date, there is no evidence that asymptomatic individuals are able to transmit the virus.
At the same time, we are asking individuals who have traveled to affected areas within the last 14 days to be vigilant about monitoring themselves for fever and lower respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. If symptoms occur, they have been instructed to call MIT Medical right away at 617-253-4865.
MIT Medical is not “screening” people who do not have symptoms PLUS a possibility of exposure to the virus. Individuals without symptoms do not need to be seen at MIT Medical. Individuals who have symptoms will be considered for testing only if they also have a possibility of exposure to the virus, either through travel to an affected area or documented close contact with an individual who has already been positively diagnosed with the virus. The CDC defines a “close contact” as a “prolonged period of time” spent “within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) or within the room or care area” of an individual who has been diagnosed with the virus or “direct contact with infectious secretions.”
MIT is not recommending quarantine or isolation for any member of our community. No individual in our community should be singled out in any way due to concerns about this virus. The only individuals who would ever need to be quarantined from others are those who meet the screening criteria (lower respiratory illness and fever, recent travel to an affected area) and are awaiting results of testing and those who have a confirmed diagnosis of 2019-nCoV.
January 28, 2020: Who can get tested for the 2019 novel coronavirus? Criteria for testing includes conditions involving a patient’s symptoms AND possible exposure. To be considered for testing a patient must have symptoms of the new virus — fever and upper-respiratory symptoms such as a cough and shortness of breath. The patient must also have a possibility of exposure to the virus, either through travel to an affected area or documented close contact with an individual who has already been positively diagnosed with the virus. In Massachusetts, the state epidemiologist must also approve the request for testing.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will test for the 2019 novel coronavirus only if a patient meets all of those criteria. It takes about 24 hours to get a result. Currently, only the CDC is able to perform this testing; however, the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory expect to have this capability in the near future.
January 28, 2020: Late yesterday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended its Level 3 travel warning from the Wuhan City area of China to the entire country. Due to concerns about the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus, the CDC is now recommending that travelers should avoid all nonessential travel to China. The Chinese government continues to enforce a travel ban preventing individuals from leaving Wuhan and 16 surrounding cities.
There have been five confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in the US, all in individuals who had visited Wuhan, China, and none involving person-to-person transmission. MIT and MIT Medical continue to monitor the coronavirus situation closely and consistently. We are in regular communication with both the Cambridge Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and have instituted all of the current recommendations. New information will be posted on this page as it becomes available.
January 27, 2020: While the number of confirmed US cases has climbed to five, there continues to be no identified risk to the MIT community. All the US cases have occurred in individuals who have traveled to Wuhan, China, and there have been no identified cases of person-to-person transmission in this country.
Recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) remain unchanged. The CDC does not recommend isolating otherwise healthy individuals who have traveled from Wuhan City if they do not have symptoms.
It is important to note that much of the information coming out of China remains unverified. Researchers from the CDC and WHO are continuing to study the virus, but much remains unknown regarding the virus’s severity and how it is transmitted. The latest situation-summaries are available on CDC’s web page 2019 Novel Coronavirus, Wuhan, China.
Individuals who have been in the Wuhan City area within the last 14 days, or in close contact (within 6 feet) of an individual who has been diagnosed with the 2019 novel coronavirus, should continue to be vigilant about monitoring for fever and lower respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. If symptoms occur, you should put on a mask immediately. Call MIT Medical right away at 617-253-4865 to talk with a nurse before you come to Urgent Care. It is important to call, because we can give you advice immediately. It will also help us make sure that you are not in close contact with other patients when you come to MIT Medical.
All members of the MIT community should continue following the same strategies they would ordinarily use to protect themselves and others during cold-and-flu season:
- Get a flu shot if you haven’t gotten one yet. Call MIT Medical’s Primary Care Service at 617-258-9355 to make an appointment. MIT Medical/Lexington patients should call 781-981-7080 to make an appointment.
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Want to make sure you’re doing it right? See these guidelines from the CDC.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home if you are feeling sick.
In addition to this webpage, you can find the most up-to-date information about this new coronavirus from the CDC and WHO.
January 26, 2020: MIT and MIT Medical continue to monitor the coronavirus situation closely and consistently. We are in regular communication with both the Cambridge Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and have instituted all of the current recommendations. There continues to be no identified risk to the MIT community.
We have convened a group of campus partners that are working together to make sure plans are in place for any scenario that may arise. As the situation evolves and as new information or recommendations become available, we will adjust our actions accordingly and communicate promptly with the Institute community.
According to news reports, on Thursday, January 23, Chinese authorities instituted a travel ban preventing individuals from leaving Wuhan and four surrounding cities. That ban was expanded to eight additional cities on Friday, January 24.
The incubation period of the virus has been reported to be 14 days. Individuals who left the Wuhan region more than 14 days ago and those who have been in other areas of China should not be concerned.
Individuals who have been in the Wuhan City area within the last 14 days, or in close contact (within 6 feet) of an individual who has been diagnosed with the 2019 novel coronavirus, need to be vigilant about monitoring for fever and lower respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath.
If symptoms occur, you should put on a mask immediately. Call MIT Medical right away at 617-253-4865 to talk with a nurse before you come to Urgent Care. It is important to call, because we can give you advice immediately. It will also help us make sure that you are not in close contact with other patients when you come to MIT Medical.
We want to be certain to support every member of our community during this time. It is important to note that the CDC does not currently recommend isolating otherwise healthy individuals who have traveled from Wuhan City if they do not have symptoms.
Finally, we want to remind everyone that following the same strategies they would ordinarily use to protect themselves and others during cold-and-flu season will go a long way toward keeping our community healthy now and for the rest of the winter:
- If you haven’t gotten a flu shot yet, get one now. You can call MIT Medical’s Primary Care Service at 617-258-9355 to make an appointment.
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home if you are feeling sick.
We’ll continue posting updates here as the situation evolves, if new risks are identified, or if we have updated recommendations.
January 24, 2020
The following letter was sent to the MIT Community on January 24.
Dear Members of the MIT Community,
MIT is closely monitoring an outbreak of a new coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which originated in Wuhan, a city in central China. To date, there have been at least two confirmed cases in the US with others suspected to have the virus; all appear to involve individuals who recently traveled to the US from Wuhan. As of now, there is no identified risk to the MIT community.
Symptoms of the 2019-nCoV virus include fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness such as cough and difficulty breathing. In some cases, the virus has led to lower respiratory tract illnesses, including bronchitis and pneumonia.
Symptoms of coronavirus may be similar to the flu or even the common cold. If you are experiencing these symptoms but have not recently traveled to an affected area in China, you mostly likely have a bad cold or the flu. MIT Medical has confirmed cases of flu on campus that are unrelated to the coronavirus. If you think you may have the flu, you can call 617-253-4865 to talk with a triage nurse at MIT Medical, who can review your symptoms and give you advice about what to do next.
If you have traveled from central China in the past 14 days and have a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, contact MIT Medical immediately.
- If you can, call 617-253-4865 to talk with a nurse before you come to Urgent Care. Tell the nurse about your recent travel and your symptoms.
- If you have a mask, wear the mask when you come into Urgent Care, or put on a mask immediately when you arrive. Avoid close contact with other people.
- Avoid spreading your illness. Wash your hands often — or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer — and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
All members of the MIT community are urged to follow the same strategies they would ordinarily use to protect themselves and others during a normal cold and flu season:
- If you haven’t gotten a flu shot yet, get one now. You can call MIT Medical’s Primary Care Service at 617-258-9355 to make an appointment.
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home if you are feeling sick.
The most up-to-date information about this new coronavirus is available from the CDC.
MIT, MIT Medical, and the Cambridge Department of Public Health are working together and monitoring the situation closely, and we will be keeping the Institute community informed via the MIT Medical website as we learn more about the virus, if new risks are identified, or if we have updated recommendations.
Sincerely,
Cecilia Stuopis, MD, FACOG
Medical Director
Shawn Ferullo, MD
Chief of Student Health
Original story: January 23, 2020
On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization learned about a number of cases of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan City, in the Hubei Province of China. On January 7, Chinese authorities identified the cause as a novel (new) coronavirus (2019-nCoV), a member of the coronavirus family that had never been encountered before.
Common human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold, with symptoms that last only a short time. However, two other human coronaviruses, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, have been known to cause severe symptoms and even death.
Symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Some infected individuals have died. Like other human coronaviruses, it is thought to have originated in animals, possibly seafood. Many of the first people infected either worked or frequently shopped in a seafood wholesale market in Wuhan City. Researchers do not yet know how easily the virus spreads between people.
The CDC has reported one US case to date, an adult male who traveled from Wuhan to Seattle-Tacoma airport on January 15. The patient was not ill when he arrived but contacted his primary care provider when he developed a fever and cough several days later. He has been hospitalized and is reported to be recovering well.
As of now, there is no identified risk to the MIT community. The CDC is not currently recommending travel restrictions but has updated its interim travel health notice for this destination, which recommends enhanced precautions and provides information to people who may be traveling to Wuhan City and who may get sick.
MIT and MIT Medical are monitoring the situation closely and will be keeping the Institute community informed as more is learned about the virus or if new travel or other recommendations are made.
