A coronavirus community meeting took place Feb. 7 at the Josiah Quincy Elementary School. (From left) An attendee, Boston Public Health Commission medical director Dr. Jennifer Lo, Boston Chief of Health and Human Service, Marty Martinez and District 2 Councilor Ed Flynn answered questions. (Image courtesy of Ivy Huang.)
Boston officials held a community meeting Feb. 7 with residents about the coronavirus or COVID-2019 in Chinatown at the Josiah Quincy Elementary School. Dozens of residents asked about risk and were given tips to prevent infection.
Dr. Jennifer Lo, Boston Public Health Commission medical director, spoke about the first confirmed case in Massachusetts, a UMass Boston student in his 20s returning from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak. His case is the eighth case of COVID-19 infection in the United States, with a total of 15 cases nationwide.
“The risk to the public from the virus remains low in Massachusetts,” Lo said.
The man sought medical care after his return to Massachusetts. He has been quarantined since and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. His contacts have been identified and are being monitored for any sign of symptoms.
A resident was concerned a couple in his senior housing complex had been on the same flight with the young man confirmed to have the virus. Lo said all individuals aboard the plane are being monitored.
“The COVID-2019 virus is characterized by fever and respiratory difficulties, much like the flu,” Lo said. “And I want you to know that the number of people who are infected with influenza far outweighs the number of coronaviruses.”
Lo urged residents to get their flu shots. If individuals have a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, or have traveled to China in the past 14 days, or have come close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus, to avoid contact with anyone else. The Boston Public Health Commission asks the public to contact your health insurance provider immediately.
Boston District 2 City Councilor Ed Flynn said he and his staff would ensure adequate and
comprehensive Chinese services were available to residents. His staff include Cantonese and Mandarin speakers.
“Every day in this country we witness and experience acts of racial discrimination, especially against Chinese [people],” Flynn said. “Here in Boston, we treat everyone with respect and dignity. The most important thing is that in this special period, we should have understanding and care for everyone.”
Nick Duncan, Tufts Medical Center director of emergency management, said “We have enough masks in our hospital and will dispatch them to community and patients if the time should arise.”
An attendee was concerned about the shortage of masks, as his/her parents have multiple hospital appointments. Duncan said Tufts MC would provide masks at its reception desk.
A student said s/he felt discriminated against for wearing a mask on the subway. Another attendee said s/he felt unsafe commuting from Cambridge to downtown Boston on crowded subway trains.
The Centers for Disease and Control does not recommend to use masks to help prevent this virus, Lo said. The CDC recommends people use standard precautions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases. Wash your hands often with soapy and water. If you sneeze or cough, cover it with your hands.
Lo noted the coronavirus was a respiratory virus and not an airborne virus, meaning it does not exist in the air. Human-to-human transmission occurs when a person infected with the virus coughs or sneezes, and if another person is within six feet or closer, there is a chance of infection. Viruses will not survive on any surface, making it similar to the flu.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection, Lo said. The best way to prevent it is to avoid exposure to it. Frequently disinfect objects. If you feel sick, stay at home.
For more information, call the Mayor’s hotline 311, visit the CDC online www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html or Boston Public Health Commission online www.bphc.org.
2019-nCoV Timeline
- As of Feb. 13, there are 15 confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in the United States. There has been one confirmed caseof this novel coronavirus in Massachusetts. The risk to residents in the Commonwealth remains low.
- On Feb. 1, the Boston Public Health Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Health confirmed the first case of 2019-nCoV in the City of Boston.The confirmed case is a UMASS Boston student in his 20s returning from Wuhan, China.
- On Jan. 31, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency for the entire United Statesto aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to2019-nCoV.
- Beginning Feb. 2, all flights from mainland China were funneled through 11 airports. Logan International Airport in Boston is not included in those 11 airports. The designated airports are: Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Honolulu, Los Angeles International, New York JFK, Newark, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington Dulles.
- On Jan. 30, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)confirmed that the 2019-nCoV has spread between two people in the United States, representing the first instance of person-to-person spread with this new virus here.
- On Jan. 30, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. It allows WHO to issue temporary recommendations. These are non-binding measures that can address travel, trade, quarantine, screening, treatment.
- On Jan. 30, the S. State Department issued a travel advisorytelling Americans not to travel to China due to2019-nCoV. At least three major airlines have suspended all flights between the U.S. and China.
After the presentation, participants asked several questions below:
- About information disclosure
Q: there are many rumors and panics in Chinatown recently. This meeting is very important. I live in an apartment for the elderly, there are more than 150 households, most of which are old and sick. Health authorities should take measures to keep residents in all communities informed of the latest news. A community meeting should be held to inform the apartment manager and the community manager to attend the meeting. As far as I know, an elderly couple in a room near me was on the same plane as the first patient in Boston.
A:All aboard the plane with the first young man in Boston to fall ill are being monitored and quarantined at the Boston center for disease control.
Q: If you go to China and then travel to other countries and come back to Boston, how do you know?
A:The immigration office will have information on whether he has been to China.
Q: how many people are currently in quarantine?
A: it involves personal privacy and cannot be disclosed.
- About self-protection
Q: Can a flu shot prevent 2019?
A: You can’t avoid infection. The number of flu infections is much higher than 2019, so if you haven’t had a flu shot, it’s recommended you get one.
Q: I live in Cambridge. I need to take the subway every day. It is crowded every day.
A: If you see someone sneezing or coughing, the easiest way is to cover your nose and mouth. All the people who came back from China, we are now asking them to isolate themselves. Anyone who feels unwell should seek treatment at a medical institution as soon as possible.
Q: what’s the difference between the 2019 virus and MERS?
A: MERS, SARS and 2019 are the same family. We are also concerned because MERS and SARS have taken many lives. The death rate for MERS was 30 percent and for SARS 10 percent, a low figure for 2019 compared with 1 percent for the flu.
- About rumors
Q: how do we identify rumors circulating in society? For example, it is said that the first case in Boston went to liu yi shou hotpot restaurant for dinner. How do we get the right information and reduce our panic?
A: So why are we calling this meeting? We’ll be Posting updates on our website and social media. We will also clarify the rumors on our website, hoping to be of help to the public.
If you have any questions, you can call the mayor’s office at 311.
Q: For the old people, they do not know or little access to the Internet, how to get information?
A: You can print a leaflet and give it to them, or you can tell us where you need it and we can provide the information to them. The Congressman’s office will also distribute 2019 virus fact sheets to communities and senior citizens’ apartments.
- About the shortage of masks
Q: My parents often have to go to the hospital, and now masks are not available on the market. How can you solve this problem?
A: At the reception desk of Tuft Medical Center, you can get a mask. Not only one hospital, other hospitals will have enough masks to provide.
- About self-isolation
Q: Do people from China have 14 days of self-quarantine?
A: Currently, all people from China are required to enter at 11 designated airports. Boston airport is not one of the 11 airports, so no Chinese passengers will enter Boston directly. All Chinese arriving at the 11 airports will pass a medical check at the airport and will only be allowed through if there is no problem.
Q: If people come back from China and they don’t get sick, will they be self-quarantined for 14 days?
A: All people coming back from China, if they don’t get sick, send the list to their local centers for disease control and prevention, and tell them to monitor them for self-quarantine.
Q: How are people coming back from China separated from their families? For example, if the wife comes back from China, the husband needs to go to work.
A: people coming back from China need to have separate Spaces and toilets. We can provide isolation if necessary.
- About discrimination
Q: I am a student. I wear a mask when I go to school on the subway every day. What advice does the government have and how to protect those affected?
A: I know how you feel. You shouldn’t have this experience. Now we are affected by a lot of rumors, the mayor and the councilman will use various ways to promote the right way to deal with it, hoping to avoid these embarrassments. The young receive more news than the old. The attitude of other people should be aware of their own prejudice and discrimination. The culture of wearing masks in Asia is different from that in the west. Asians don’t have to be sick to wear masks.
- About the economic impact
Q: Due to the suspension of flights to China, many people will lose refund fees on their tickets, which will have a great impact on low-income people.
A: Call the Boston immigration office or call the mayor’s hotline 311.
For more information, call the Mayor’s hotline 311.
USA CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Boston Public Health Commission https://www.bphc.org/Pages/default.aspx
