CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Clinic suspended all international travel for its employees, known as caregivers, in response to the novel coronavirus, now called COVID-19, outbreak.
The travel ban went into effect March 5 and covers all nonessential international business travel through March 31. Domestic business travel also is being limited and will require approval from hospital leadership, according to a statement from the Clinic.
“As health care providers, our first priority is serving our patients and community. We are taking these precautions to ensure we can continue caring for our patients while also protecting the health of our caregivers,” the statement said.
Globally, there are more than 95,000 confirmed cases of people with the virus and more than 3,200 deaths, according to the World Health Organization as of March 5. In the U.S., there are 99 confirmed cases in 13 states and 10 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s March 5 numbers. There are no confirmed cases in Ohio.
The Clinic is following travel notices issued by the CDC and WHO and will update its own travel restrictions as that guidance changes, the statement said.
The CDC issued a Level 3 travel notice for China, Iran, Italy and South Korea, recommending those in the U.S. avoid nonessential travel to those countries; a Level 2 travel notice to Japan, advising that older adults and those with chronic medical conditions postpone nonessential travel; and a Level 1 watch notice for Hong Kong, urging travelers to practice usual precautions, related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
A CDC Level 3 warning means “the outbreak is of high risk to travelers and no precautions are available to protect against the identified increased risk.” A Level 2 alert identifies “a specific at-risk population,” and a Level 1 watch means the virus has spread to Hong Kong and travelers “should avoid contact with sick people and clean their hands often by washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%-95% alcohol.”
The WHO on Feb. 29 advised against countries imposing travel restrictions to places with COVID-19 outbreaks but advised sick travelers, especially the elderly and those with chronic diseases and underlying health conditions, to delay or avoid travel to affected areas.
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