NEWPORT — Effective immediately, Newport Hospital and Health Services is taking interim infection prevention measures against novel coronavirus.

Every person visiting NHHS medical facilities will be asked specific screening questions, hospital officials said in a press release. In addition, visitors will be restricted from certain high risk areas. Infection prevention professionals will notify Northeast Tri County Health District of any suspected cases.

Novel coronavirus is a virus strain that was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019. The Washington State Department of Health confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the United States on Jan. 22, in Snohomish County, Wash.

Health experts are concerned about COVID-19 because little is known about the virus and it has the potential to cause severe illness and pneumonia, according to the Panhandle Health District.

To minimize the risk of spread, health officials throughout the United States are working with healthcare providers to quickly identify and evaluate suspected cases.

Symptoms may appear between two and 14 days after exposure to the virus and include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, nausea and in rare cases diarrhea.

The precautions for avoiding COVID-19 are the same as those for avoiding the flu and common cold. Currently, there are no vaccines available to prevent novel coronavirus infections.

As part of Washington state public health system’s response to COVID-19, Northeast Tri County Health District has been monitoring returning travelers for the illness. While one returning traveler met the screening criteria for testing, testing results were negative for COVID-19.

The coronavirus risk in Idaho is low at the this time, Idaho Department of Health & Welfare officials said Friday.

However, the agency said all residents should take precautions to avoid all respiratory diseases, including staying home if you’re sick, avoiding sick people and covering coughs and sneezes with the crook of your elbow or tissue.

The total number of people who have been or are being monitored by Idaho public health officials is 32, although 18 people are no longer under monitoring, according to Health & Welfare. Two people have been tested, although the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases remained at zero Friday.

Information: healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/COVID19/tabid/4664/Default.aspx and panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19