Maplewood Health Officer Releases Video Update On Coronavirus

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — On Monday afternoon, the Maplewood Public Health division posted a new advisory on its website with advice for dealing with the spread of the novel coronavirus. The division also posted a video in which Health Officer Candice Davenport talks about the latest information.

The updated advisory notes, "Starting this week, your health care provider can write a prescription for you to get a CoV lab test at a commercial lab such as Quest or LabCorp. However they will not test you unless you meet the symptom criteria..."

It says there are six positive cases of coronavirus in New Jersey, but as of Monday, the number was increased to 11.

The advisory cites a CDC recommendation that "those over 60 and those with underlying health conditions should practice social distancing and avoid large crowds in public spaces and large gatherings." Spaces can include anything from gyms to libraries to the supermarket.

They also advise washing your hands for at least 20 seconds and using paper towels to open the door, after being in a public space. You can watch the video here.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

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