Health Department creates webpage dedicated to coronavirus information

March 5, 2020

A novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was identified in December as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and which continues to expand. Cases have been identified in the United States, as well as many other countries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and State and local health departments, including the New Hampshire (NH) Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health Services’ (DPHS), are monitoring this rapidly developing situation. Information about this outbreak is available here and continuously updated.

To aid residents, travelers, schools, businesses and other communities in preparing for the impact of this health concern, the City of Portsmouth Health Department has created a special webpage to provide residents with the most current guidance and resources available from the CDC and DHHS.

The website includes COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions, such as how the disease is spread and how to protect against it, treatment and guidance for specialized audiences.

“The most important thing is to keep a sense of perspective and to stay informed,” said City Health Officer Kim McNamara in announcing the new webpage. “The Health Department is in touch with the NH DHHS and the recommendations of the NH State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan. He and others around the country are working with the CDC to provide accurate, up-to-date information to the public.”