Key Points

An outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in late December 2019.

• Investigate and manage patients for respiratory illness using standard practices.
• For severe respiratory illness, transfer patients to public hospital emergency departments.
• Contact your state/territory public health unit or communicable disease branch for advice on suspected cases including diagnostic testing and specimen collection.

Current Situation

• Most people infected with 2019-nCoV live in, or have recently travelled to mainland China. There have also been some cases reported in other countries.
• There is evidence of human-to-human transmission, including among healthcare workers.
• People are considered to be most infectious while symptomatic, however there is some evidence that asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic people are also able to transmit the virus.
• People who have recently returned from mainland China or who have had close contact with a confirmed case are being advised to self-isolate for 14 days.
• People in these circumstances have been advised to call ahead to medical clinics if they require medical attention.

Identify Symptoms and Exposure History

If the patient satisfies the epidemiological AND clinical criteria (listed below), they are classified as a suspected case:

SUSPECTED CASE DEFINITION (1):

A case who, in the 14 days before the onset of illness:

Travelled to regions known to have cases of 2019-nCoV

OR

Had contact with confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV

AND

Has at least one of the following:

• Fever or history of fever
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Cough 

SUSPECTED CASE DEFINITION (2):

An atypical case presentation of:

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

OR

Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI)

Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of atypical presentations in patients who are immunocompromised.

PROBABLE CASE DEFINITION:

A suspected case for whom test 2019-nCoV is inconclusive or for whom testing was

positive on a pan-coronavirus assay.

CONFIRMED CASE DEFINITION:

A person who has tested positive for 2019-nCoV infection, irrespective of clinical signs

and symptoms.

 

The above criteria are provisional only. They will be revised by public health authorities

over time as more precise information emerges on the outbreak including characteristics

of transmission, incubation and infectivity period and geographical spread. Updated information will be communicated when available.

Action for Patients who meet criteria.