CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The Virginia Department of Health continues to monitor the potential public health threat posed by novel coronavirus in the state, according to its website.
The health department has tested eight people in Virginia for the virus since Jan. 21. Only two people are waiting for their test results. Six other cases have come back negative.
Virginia continues to have no confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Overall, health officials have monitored 279 people—153 of those have finished monitoring.
As of Wednesday, they are still monitoring 126 people.
"It's not as bad as what you think it is but yes, we are hanging in there,” said epidemiologist Lisa Engle.
The virus was first detected in Wuhan, China.
Engle said Americans who visited China in the past 14 days can enter the United States, but they must follow guidelines and return through one of the 11 airports, with CDC health screenings.
"Now they are being given a care kit, but they are also giving contact information and we are getting their information also from CDC and we are putting those people under voluntary monitoring,” said Engle.
Depending on their health and travel history, they will have some restrictions for two weeks, from the time they left China.
Earlier this month, four Newport News students had to self-monitor for coronavirus symptoms after visiting China.
The four students returned to school last week with a release note from the Virginia Department of Health.
What steps is the department taking to keep people safe, beyond health screenings?
Doctor Nancy Welch, with the Chesapeake Health Department, says it's simple. They're telling people to wash their hands and cover their mouths, like you do when you help prevent spreading the flu.
"The big step we are doing is using traditional epidemiological type approaches as I said. The flu and corona are spread the same way,” said Welch.
Coronavirus symptoms are flu-like and can become more severe. Welch said she believes Virginia is being proactive with this virus.
“We know about these things immediately. Because of social media and all of the new things that we have,” she said.
The department of health will give updates on the coronavirus on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. You can see those updates here.