Collaborates with New Jersey Poison Center to Educate Community
Trenton NJ, The New Jersey Department of Health announced the opening of a hotline (1-800-222-1222) for the public to ask questions about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.
“Although the risk to the public remains low, we understand that residents have questions about this new virus,” Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said. “This hotline provides factual information to alleviate fear and dispel rumors.”
The hotline is being operated by the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES), also known as the New Jersey Poison Center, which has run other call centers for the Health Department. NJPIES is a division of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. The hotline can accommodate callers in multiple languages. “As a 24-hour hotline staffed continuously with trained healthcare professionals, the New Jersey Poison Center is standing by to answer questions about this emerging infection. The call is always free, and we can communicate in any language to the public as well as healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Diane Calello, Executive and Medical Director of NJPIES.
The hotline is part of a comprehensive approach by the state and medical and public health partners to respond to novel coronavirus (nCoV) by ensuring the public health and health care system preparedness.
The Department has a nCoV webpage that includes CDC updates, travel advisories and guidance sent to health care providers, local health departments, infection preventionists and other health partners.
On Friday, Commissioner Persichilli sent a letter to hospital CEOs detailing specific guidance to healthcare professionals on how to evaluate reports of patients with possible nCoV illness, such as taking a careful travel and exposure history to determine if they meet specific CDC testing criteria. At this time, only the CDC laboratories in Atlanta have the capabilities to test for nCoV, though it is expected that state public health laboratories will be able to test soon.
The Department has also been in contact with Newark Liberty International Airport’s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in advance of airport screening.
“The Department reminds individuals with recent travel to Wuhan, China or close contact with someone who has and are experiencing symptoms, to call their health care provider in advance before arriving to the office so they can make accommodations in advance,” Commissioner Persichilli said.
Patients with confirmed nCoV infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. CDC believes at this time that symptoms of nCoV may appear in as few as two days or as long as two weeks after exposure.
New Jersey continues to work closely with the CDC and local health partners to monitor the situation and will provide updates accordingly.
Follow the New Jersey Department of Health on Twitter @njdeptofhealth, Facebook /njdeptofhealth, Instagram@njdeptofhealth and Snapchat @njdoh.
For more information, visit our homepage at nj.gov/health
Follow the NJ Poison Control Center on Twitter @NJPoisonCenter and Facebook @NJPIES. Visit our homepage at njpies.org
I really think you should rewatch the video… This cop CLEARLY says that he lives in Tucson Arizona and got an opportunity to go to this rally in ARIZONA! I’m confused about NJ. Trump protesters aren’t evil they are rightfully angry. This officer mentions a mother covering her child’s ears in an effort to block out cursing. Well, Trump curses at ALL of his rallies and at least that mother has her daughter. Do you know how many children were taken from their parents at the border? Many of those parents followed the law when those children were taken away. Our country allows immigrants to seek asylum at certain points of entry. Many children were taken away from their parents at these points of entry. They were taken without getting or giving information so their families could be reunited. This is what EVIL looks like. I wonder what Trump supporters would do if they had no way to feed their families? Stop and think about that. Your country is war-torn and through no fault of your own you have NO food, NO shelter and nowhere to go. What would you do!? So, unless you are Native American your family did exactly what all these families are doing. Lastly, I think it’s unbelievable that Trump is receiving any support from African American voters. Trump is as racist as they come. His father was a Klan member. I have known this man all my life (my dad had bad taste in friends). The people that support Trump are the same people he laughs at, ridicules and uses to advance his agenda. I’m shocked every single day. Sitting at a table for dinner Trump told us that he would win by targeting the stupid and uneducated. Was he right?
Speaking about health I heard yesterday that most CVS ‘s Pharmacy department will be shutting down by 10 PM. If so that’s terrible we need a 24 hour pharmaceutical in the CBD. The mayor council should be fighting for this.
What does it say Protect yourself when you’re having sex with animals.