LOC02:32
23:32 GMT
WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (KUNA) -- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday reassessed its entry strategy and decided to expand to screening travelers from the five airports originally to 20 airports in the United States.
As of today, the CDC has reported five cases of the novel coronavirus infection here in the United States, CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield, said in a joint press conference with Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar.
"Americans should know that this is a potentially very serious public health threat, but at this point Americans should not worry for their own safety," Dr. Redfield added.
On his part, Azar said, "We've been monitoring this virus and preparing a response since back in December, but it's more than that. Preparing for these kinds of outbreaks is part of daily life at HHS and for America's public health professionals."
"Preparedness is a day job around here. We are constantly making investments, training personnel at all levels, carrying out simulations and exercises, and sharing information.
"This commitment goes straight to the top: The President and I have been speaking regularly about this outbreak, and I have been speaking with the senior officials at HHS and the White House multiple times each day since the outbreak began to represent an international threat," he added.
The press conference also gathered Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; and Dr. Tony Fauci, director of NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (end)
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