Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

Statement on passengers interviewed at MSP

With the number of cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continuing to expand globally, health officials are monitoring for potential cases and interviewing travelers identified as having an elevated risk of exposure due to contact with a known case of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quarantine stations at airports around the country play a key role in this monitoring and investigation process. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) issued this statement today regarding monitoring activities CDC officials took on a flight arriving at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport yesterday afternoon.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) was notified by the CDC’s Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Quarantine Station about two passengers on a flight arriving from Europe who had been in close contact while in Europe with a person confirmed to have novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon landing at MSP, these passengers were evaluated on the plane by a medical professional from the Quarantine Station and determined to not have symptoms of COVID-19.

Due to their contact with a known, confirmed case, however, they have been instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days. If they develop symptoms, they will be tested for COVID-19. Other passengers on the plane will be contacted by health officials if anyone on the flight were to test positive with COVID-19 at a later date.

The measures taken to isolate and monitor potentially exposed passengers are designed to keep the risk of spread to others as low as possible. However, given the number of cases around the world and the concerns about community-level transmission in some parts of the United States, MDH reminds all Minnesotans they should be taking action now to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. These steps include:

Cover your coughs and sneezes with your sleeve or a tissue, not your hand

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Stay home when sick.

Stay informed by visiting the MDH and CDC websites often.

 

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