The local Quarantine Authority in the Virgin Islands (VI) has been activated as a precautionary measure in response to the 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak happening in China, with cases confirmed in other counties like Japan, Taiwan, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, the US, and France. Photo: Getty Images

According to a Government Information Service release, the activity of the authority was initiated by the Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) who has oversight of health-related matters facing the VI. Photo: VINO/File

Wuhan: The Chinese mega-city at the center of coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Internet Source

According to a Government Information Service release, the activity of the authority was initiated by the Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) who has oversight for health-related matters facing the VI.

"The authority is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Irad Potter and consists of six additional members who represent the Department of Agriculture, BVI Ports Authority, BVI Airports Authority, BVI Health Services Authority, Environmental Health Division and the Immigration Department," the release noted.

More agencies will work together - Hon Malone 

Honourable Malone, in a statement on January 28, 2020, said other agencies such as the Department of Information, the Department of Disaster Management, Her Majesty's Prison, Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Fire and Rescue and Immigration and Customs are also working in close consultation to provide enhanced surveillance of acute respiratory infections.

The group will also work to increase education and awareness on the 2019 novel coronavirus, provide recommendations on preventative measures such as hand-washing, respiratory hygiene and environmental sanitation, to encourage the use of personal equipment by health workers and to conduct training programmes and implement advanced processes for the effective management of ill passengers at primary ports of entry.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Potter had previously said: “We will remain on the alert as this new coronavirus belongs to the same family as less severe diseases like the common cold and more severe diseases, like the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)- the latter which killed over 800 people worldwide in 2003."

He said current information indicates that transmission is via human-to-human, for example, via respiratory droplets from sneezes and coughs and may also be contracted indirectly, through touching contaminated surfaces.

China health authorities indicated the virus is contracted through the mouth, eyes and nose via the respiratory droplets.

Less than 3k confirmed cases - WHO 

Government Information Service (GIS) stated that, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of January 28, there were 2798 confirmed cases of patients with pneumonia caused by the new strain of coronavirus. Outside of China, at least 11 more countries have confirmed at least one case among travellers who visited Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the outbreak.

Hon Malone said that additional measures are being forged with air and seaports authorities, along with health officials from regional island nations, that tourist commonly transit to get to the Territory.

“This measure is being taken so as to determine if adequate protocols are being practised in these island nations so as to avoid the occurrence of transmittal or delivery to our shores,” he said.