Reader’s coronavirus question answered: No health danger in package coming from China

US coronavirus fears

A woman with a facial mask passes the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Monday at Wall Street in New York City. Some Americans are feeling nervous as cases of coronavirus spread here and in China.TNS

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Recently, we asked readers to send in their questions about coronavirus. Here is a reader question:

Q: If I purchased an item that was sent from China, such as a necklace, what should I do with it? — Rodney Wurtele, Louisville, Kentucky

A: “There is no evidence that the novel coronavirus would be transmitted from goods imported from China,” Dr. Elie Anthony Saade, medical director for Infection Control, University Hospitals, said in an email.

“This family of viruses does not survive well enough on inanimate objects to be transported long distances over days or weeks,” Saade said. “The possibility of a transmission from a good that traveled days or weeks is nonexistent to extremely low.”

Coronavirus is a pneumonia-like illness that has killed hundreds in China and is spreading across the globe. There are confirmed cases of coronavirus in several U.S. states.

What do you want to know about coronavirus? We want to hear from you. We’ll use your questions and comments to shape our coverage of coronavirus during the next few weeks.

Please send your comments to health reporter Julie Washington, jwashington@plaind.com. Be sure to include your full name, age, city where you live and daytime phone number. Your comments may be published in the Plain Dealer, but your phone number will be kept private.

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