The IMO Headquarters building is closed to visitors and staff, on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 March, as a precautionary measure due to the COVID-19 virus. This follows the 11 March assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO) that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic.
The IMO Secretary-General and the Organization’s Senior Management Committee are monitoring the situation closely. IMO staff are working from home where possible
IMO said.
COVID-19 has cost the lives of 4,638 people, while confirmed cases exceed 126,000. What is more, except from China, coronavirus cases have been reported in other countries in Asia, such as Malaysia and Japan, in Australia, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, the US and Canada, among others.
Coronavirus symptoms
For confirmed 2019-nCoV infections, reported illnesses have ranged from people being mildly sick to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
CDC believes at this time that symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.
Prevention
There is currently no vaccine to prevent 2019-nCoV infection. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
See also
Chinese Ports establish precautionary measures against Coronavirus
Cruise industry takes measures against Coronavirus
Shipping industry alerts on coronavirus outbreak
Potential problems arising due to the Coronavirus
