COLUMBUS – Health officials say two Miami University students who recently showed signs of having contracted the coronavirus tested negative for the disease, which has claimed more than 300 lives in China.
There are currently no suspected or confirmed cases of the disease in the state, Ohio Department of Health director Dr. Amy Acton said.
“While we are pleased to announce these results are negative, we continue to remain vigilant. We are working closely with our local health departments and health care providers and will keep you apprised of this ever-changing situation,” Acton said at a news conference at the university’s Oxford campus Sunday night.
The Butler County General Health District reported that two students who had recently traveled to China met CDC criteria for further testing and evaluation after exhibiting respiratory symptoms at the university’s Student Health Services Center.
The two students have been isolated during testing but they got a clean bill of health over the weekend.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the risk of the general U.S. population contracting the novel coronavirus is low, Acton said.
She recommends taking precautions, similar to those to avoid the flu, such as washing hands often with soap and water, avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, covering cough or sneezes with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash.
Health officials also ask residents to avoid close contact with people who are sick and to stay home when they are sick.
The novel coronavirus is primarily spread through respiratory droplets, which means to become infected, people generally must be within six feet of someone who is contagious and have droplets land on them, Acton said.
Symptoms of coronavirus appear within two to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose and difficulty breathing.