Coronavirus nCOV-2019: recommendations and advices

Dear Members and Friends,

Following the recent novel coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV) outbreak, the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce would like to share some useful information to advance your understanding of the virus and keep you up-to-date with the current situation. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illness ranging from respiratory infections such as the common cold, to more severe diseases such as SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) and MERS-CoV  (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ) that can be lethal. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.

The name coronavirus comes from the Latin word corona, meaning crown or halo. Under an electron microscope, the image of the virus is reminiscent of a solar corona.

Chinese authorities identified a novel coronavirus on January 7^th and named it 2019-nCoV. It is a new strain that had not been previously identified in humans.

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. 

In humans, the incubation period - during which a person has the disease, but no symptoms yet - ranges from between one and 14 days, officials believe. Without symptoms, a person may not know they have the infection, but still be able to spread it.

WHO’s standards to reduce exposure to and transmission are as follows:

• Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water;
• When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands;
• Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough;
• If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider;
• When visiting live markets in areas currently experiencing cases of novel coronavirus, avoid direct unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals;
• The consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided. Raw meat, milk or animal organs should be handled with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices.

We invite you to regularly check the Safe Traveling Portal of the Crisis Unit of Farnesina, where you can find all the updates on the spread of the new coronavirus.

Please note that the Embassy of Italy has issued a Coronavirus Emergency hotline for Italian people:
+86 139 01032957 and +86 136 83515640.

Below you can find address and contact details of the Embassy of Italy in the PRC and Italian consulates in China. 

Embassy of Italy

2, San Li Tun Dong Er Jie - 100600 Beijing - CHINA
Tel.: +86 10 8532.7600
fax: +86 10 6532.4676
e-mail: ambasciata.pechino@esteri.it

Consulate General of Italy in Chongqing

Chongqing World Financial Centre (WFC), No.188, Minzu Road Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400010 
Tel: +86 023-63822511
Fax: +86 023-63832544
E-mail: chongqing.segreteria@esteri.it 

Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou 

Unit 1403 International Finance Place (IFP) 
No.8 Huaxia Road 
Pearl River New City 
510623 Guangzhou 
tel.: +86(20) 38396225 
fax: +86(20) 85506370
e-mail: consolato.canton@esteri.it  

Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong

Suite 3201, 32/F, Central Plaza Building, 18 Harbour Road, Wanchai
Telefono: (+852) 25220033/4/5
Fax: (+852) 28459678
Email: consolato.hongkong@esteri.it ​

Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai

989, Chang Le Road, The Center, 19 Floor - 200031 Shanghai - CHINA 
tel.: +86 (21) 659 659 00 
fax: +86 (21) 64716977 
e-mail: info.shanghai@esteri.it 

Kind Regards,

CICC Team