Coronavirus Disease 2019

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is closely monitoring an outbreak of a respiratory disease, “coronavirus disease 2019” or COVID-19. The number of locations with confirmed cases, both domestically and internationally, continues to rise. The IHS and our partners across the Department of Health and Human Services are coordinating a comprehensive public health response for the agency.

This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. More cases of COVID-19 are likely to be identified in the coming days. At this time, most people in the United States have little immediate risk of exposure to this virus. This virus is not currently spreading widely in the United States, however, preliminary information has raised the level of concern about the immediate threat for COVID-19 for certain communities in the United States. The potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 is very high.

The IHS will continue to follow our normal policies and procedures for evaluation and treatment of respiratory illnesses. If a patient comes under evaluation for COVID-19, IHS would coordinate with local, state, and/or tribal public health departments immediately. While any direct impacts of this outbreak to Indian Country are not yet known, we must be vigilant in our efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of infections among our patients and within the communities we serve. The federal government is working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat.

Click here for some of the everyday preventive actions you can take to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. We also encourage everyone to periodically review CDC’s COVID-19 webpage for the most recent updates, including Frequently Asked Questions and Answers .

Last updated: March 3, 2020

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