With the threat of coronavirus spreading across NSW, the Lismore region is gearing up to deal with any potential outbreaks. 

Local Lismore Base Hospital staff have been briefed about the contagious and potentially deadly disease and today, Southern Cross University Health Clinic sent out a warning to patients to be aware of coronavirus alerts.

Local schools are preparing too, sending warning letters to parents about the virus.

Parents of children attending St Carthage’s Primary School and Trinity Catholic College received letters this week, recommending that any student who was in China over the past 14 days “should not return to school or childcare services this week as the incubation period of the coronavirus can be as long as two weeks”.

“Students who returned to Australia more than 14 days ago, and have shown no symptoms should be able to return to school this week,” one letter said.

“Staff and students who have been in close contact with a conformed case of Novel coronavirus should also be excluded from work and school.”

A NSW Health Department spokesperson said the symptoms of coronavirus included fever, cough and sore throat.

“If you exhibit any of these signs and you have been to mainland china, you should get tested for the virus,” he said. 

“The numbers of cases under investigation have increased as we have broadened the definition of the virus.

“Symptoms can have a broader presentation of mild to severe and self-isolation is recommended as an additional precaution.

“You should also practice good hygiene and wash your hands regularly.”

As of today, Tuesday, February 4, there were four confirmed cases of coronavirus in NSW, 29 under investigation and 170 cases already cleared. 

The NSW Department of Health has also issued the following warning: 

If you arrived in Australia after 1 February after travelling to, or transiting through, mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) you must isolate yourself at home for 14 days after you left China.

If you are sharing the home with others, as much as possible, you should stay in a different room from other people or be separated as much as possible. Wear a surgical mask when you are in the same room as another person and when seeking medical care. Use a separate bathroom, if available.

Make sure that you do not share a room with people who are at risk of severe disease, such as elderly people and those who have heart, lung or kidney conditions, and diabetes. Visitors who do not have an essential need to be in the home should not visit while you are in quarantine.

Other members of the household are not required to be isolated unless they have also travelled to, or transit through mainland China, arrived in Australia after 1 February after travel to, or are a contact of a case.

You should restrict activities outside your home/hotel, except for seeking medical care. You should not go to work, school, or public areas, and you should not use public transportation, taxis or ride-sharing services.

When in quarantine, you should monitor yourself for symptoms. Watch for:

* fever

* cough

* shortness of breath (difficulty breathing)

other early symptoms to watch for are chills, body aches, sore throat, headache and runny nose, muscle pain or diarrhoea.

If you develop symptoms and it is a medical emergency (e.g. shortness of breath at rest or difficulty breathing) you should call 000. Alert ambulance staff of your travel/contact history.

If you develop symptoms that are not an emergency, you should call your doctor, or your local Emergency Department or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. Tell the person when you call that you have been in mainland China. Call ahead before visiting a doctor or emergency department to ensure your health facility visit is managed safely.

More detailed information is available from http://www.health.nsw.gov.au including Chinese translations.