Another NJ Patient Tests Negative For Coronavirus

NEW JERSEY – Test results came back negative for a person in New Jersey who was under investigation for the coronavirus.

This person was isolated at home and not hospitalized, health officials said. There are no reported cases of the illness in New Jersey; at least eight people have been tested and all were negative.

Most New Jersey residents remain at low risk for the coronavirus, the state Department of Health said. And if anyone is having symptoms, the illness is much more likely to be caused by common respiratory viruses such as flu or the common cold, officials said.

Even so, state officials said they will be testing more people for the coronavirus for now on.

Gov. Phil Murphy said this week that anyone with pneumonia requiring hospitalization, with no obvious source for the diagnosis, will be tested. "We've been at this for weeks and we are staying vigilant," the governor said.

The announcement came as six deaths in the United States resulting from the coronavirus have been reported. At least three in Washington were announced on Monday.

The update also came after a federal employee who traveled to China was reportedly told to return to her job in New Jersey despite the protocol that requires a 14-day quarantine period to screen for the coronavirus. Read more: Federal Worker In NJ Told To Violate Coronavirus Quarantine: Reports

Princeton University also is now prohibiting travel to select countries over concerns about the novel coronavirus, recently dubbed COVID-19. Read more: Princeton University Prohibits Some Travel Over Coronavirus Fears

Murphy said his administration "is actively engaged in a multi-level, whole-of-government approach – from our hospitals, to our schools, to our ports – to implement a preparedness and response plan for the potential spread of the coronavirus in New Jersey."

"Together, we are prepared to respond properly and swiftly to any future individuals who meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for coronavirus testing," he said.

New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said the state is working closely with the CDC and public health and healthcare partners to ensure the preparedness levels for the novel virus remain high.

Preparing for the threat from the COVID-19 coronavirus will take heightened vigilance and the coordination of all people, ranging from health and education officials to students and their parents, said state Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet.

"We can't emphasize enough how the safety of the nearly 1.4 million children in our schools depends on all stakeholders proactively engaging in effective communication, collaboration and preparation," he said.

Officials say there have been more than 85,000 cases and more than 3,000 deaths worldwide. More than 60 cases of the coronavirus have been diagnosed in the United States.

The Ocean County Health Department, meanwhile, has monitored 13 people who have essentially self-quarantined, Ocean County Public Health Officer Daniel E. Regenye told Patch.

They did it at their homes after returning from abroad, Regenye said.

The update also comes a week after Nancy Messonnier, the director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, told reporters in a conference call the question is no longer if the coronavirus will spread across the United States but when that will happen.

Communities, schools and businesses in New Jersey and elsewhere should begin preparing now for "the expectation that this could be bad," Messonnier said.

"I understand this whole situation may seem overwhelming and that disruption to everyday life may be severe. But these are things that people need to start thinking about now," she said. "You should think about what you would do for child care if schools or day cares closed." Read more: Crewman Dies On NJ Ship Where 27 Tested For Coronavirus (UPDATE)

So far in New Jersey, the Department of Health says it has been focused on ramping up preparedness efforts and coordination with hospital and local health departments since the end of January. The Department of Health's crisis management meets daily to monitor "this evolving situation," officials said.

Murphy issued a statement on Saturday, saying he spoke with Vice President Pence to discuss New Jersey's ongoing efforts to guard against the spread of novel coronavirus.

The vice president praised New Jersey for taking aggressive and proactive measures to combat the public health threat and reiterated that the Trump Administration stands ready to support New Jersey's efforts in this fight, according to the governor's office.

Murphy thanked the vice president for maintaining an open line of communication and pledged to work closely with the White House, Coronavirus Task Force, and CDC to combat the virus and "keep all New Jerseyans safe and healthy."