As a new coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, Kevin Guskiewicz and UNC leaders are assuring campus residents there are no confirmed cases in North Carolina.

In a message to the community on Wednesday, UNC leaders said:

We are writing to share that the University continues to monitor the spread of COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, as more cases are confirmed in the United States and other countries. This is a rapidly changing situation, and we have a team in place working diligently to monitor the situation and develop and execute plans to maintain the safety and well-being of our community. Right now, there are no confirmed cases on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus or in North Carolina and no member of the Carolina Community abroad has contracted the virus. 

UNC also confirmed it has been in regular contact with students, faculty and staff in regions abroad where coronavirus has been identified. The university said any decisions made regarding operations in affected areas will be communicated directly with those abroad and with the entire campus community.

In addition, UNC is maintaining a COVID-19 website with the most recent information and any changes to University-sponsored or affiliated programming will be posted there.

Symptoms of coronavirus include having a runny nose, headaches, coughs, a sore throat, a fever and a general feeling of being unwell.

According to the Center for Disease Control, symptoms of coronavirus may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days after exposure. The illness can be more serious for individuals with a weakened immune system, older adults or those with underlying respiratory problems.

While there have been a few confirmed cases in the United States, coronavirus continues to spread abroad. On Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump addressed the nation and said the threat to the United States “remains very low.”

North Carolina experienced a coronavirus scare earlier this year when a passenger who had traveled through Wuhan City — where the outbreak originated — arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. However, that passenger was later cleared by local health officials.

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