US Navy Surgeon General message to Sailors and Marines about CDC guidelines regarding the Novel Coronavirus. Produced by Navy Medicine Professional Development Center (NMPDC).
Transcript
Greetings Sailors, Marines, and families. I’m Rear Admiral Bruce Gillingham. As Surgeon General for our Navy and Marine Corps team, I wanna taka a few moments to talk with you about the Novel, or new, Coronavirus. This is the virus that was first detected in Wuhan, China and has been in the news recently. Our Department of Defense and Navy leadership have been actively engaged on this issue to help protect you and your family. The guidance and procedures we are following are closely-coordinated with our inter-agency partners, especially the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. This ensures accurate and timely information is available and all appropriate measures are taken to prevent the potential spread of the virus. Based on the information we have at this time, the overall threat of contracting the Novel Coronavirus outside of China is low. Colds and influenza are far more common. Navy and Marine Corps personnel and their families who have recently traveled to China should be aware of respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, or difficulty breathing. Should a service member of family member who has recently traveled to China experience any of these symptoms, they should call ahead to their medical provider to receive additional instructions for clinical care. There is currently no vaccine to prevent the Novel Coronavirus. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid exposure to this virus. To help prevent the spread of viruses, the CDC recommends the following: avoiding close contact with people who are sick, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. The readiness of our forces and families requires ensuring we are all in the best health to perform our duties and take care of our families. If you do become ill, take the right actions to keep others from getting sick. When you are sick, stay home, or follow your local sick call procedures. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and then discard the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces, and know this. My team is working on this situation and is in frequent contact with every Navy and Marine Corps medical department and facility around the world. Every healthcare provider in the Navy and Marine Corps is being provided the latest information and treatment recommendations. If we do what is necessary to protect ourselves and our families, we can avoid illness, stay healthy, and complete our missions. Be smart about your travel, your travel precautions, and what you can do to protect yourself and your family. Remember this, Navy medicine is here for you. If you need help or have additional questions, please contact your local medical representative. The CDC website has the latest and most up-to-date information. The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center website also has information on the Novel Coronavirus. Thank you for your attention to this important health information. Just as you defend our country 24/7, Navy medicine will continue to work around the clock to protect you and your families. We have the medical watch.