Minnesota health officials keep watch on virus developments

January 22, 2020 at 3:57AM
A lab assistant works on samples after an AP interview with Christian Drosten, director of the institute for virology of Berlin's Charite hospital on his researches on the coronavirus in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020.
A lab assistant works on samples after an AP interview with Christian Drosten, director of the institute for virology of Berlin's Charite hospital on his researches on the coronavirus in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Officials at the Minnesota Department of Health said they are closely monitoring federal actions regarding the coronavirus in China and the first U.S. case in Washington.

What they said: They said it's unlikely that the novel virus will spread in Minnesota, but that preparations for prior global outbreaks have left hospitals and clinics able to rapidly detect and alert the state to any cases.

At MSP: The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has no direct flights from China and is not among the five U.S. airports engaged in heightened screening.

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