Jordan Beck | Daily Press Perkins resident David Houseman puts on a face mask he took from a respiratory hygiene station outside OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group’s walk-in clinic Monday. An ongoing coronavirus outbreak has made headlines around the world. As of late January, however, no cases of the novel strain of coronavirus driving the outbreak had been reported in Michigan.

ESCANABA — An ongoing coronavirus outbreak has made headlines around the world. Local health officials addressed the situation and shared tips on how to limit the spread of respiratory illness recently.

“While there have been no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus reported in Michigan as of Jan. 30, 2020, Public Health is closely following updates to the guidance issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” Public Health, Delta and Menominee Counties Immunization/Communicable Disease Coordinator Jennie Miller said.

OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group Infection Preventionist Nicole Pirlot said her employer has been keeping an eye on the novel strain of coronavirus driving the outbreak for a few months now.

“OSF Healthcare has been continuously monitoring the novel coronavirus situation since the first CDC alert in December,” she said.

Although the novel strain’s appearance in humans is a concern, Miller said most Americans have little reason to worry about coronavirus right now.

“The immediate health risk to the general U.S. public is considered low at this time,” she said.

In fact, a press release issued by OSF HealthCare on Jan. 30 states the seasonal flu poses more of a threat than the novel strain of coronavirus does locally.

According to the CDC, people who have symptoms such as trouble breathing, fever and cough may be at a higher risk of carrying the novel strain of coronavirus if they have recently traveled to and from Wuhan, China or have been in contact with someone who has.

“As patients present to OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group, we are currently looking at both patient travel history and possible symptoms,” Pirlot said.

Patients will be asked if they have traveled out of the country while registering at OSF. If they are coughing, sneezing or have other respiratory symptoms, they will be asked to wear a mask if possible.

While there is currently no vaccine for the novel strain of coronavirus, there are a number of things people can do to protect themselves and others from respiratory illnesses. Pirlot said these include:

– cleaning their hands often.

– not touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

– avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

– staying home when they are sick.

– covering coughs and sneezes.

– cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces that are regularly used.

For more information on the status of coronavirus in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/coronavirus.