Austin-Travis Co. EMS says six being monitored for coronavirus after traveling to China

Austin-Travis County EMS tells CBS Austin they're keeping a close watch on several people in Austin who recently traveled to mainland China.

"We do have six people that are being monitored, again out of an abundance of caution,” said Jason Pickett, Deputy Medical Director for Austin-Travis County EMS. “They're not ill, they have shown no signs of the disease. They simply have a travel history to areas where the coronavirus has been seen."

Already, the virus has claimed more than a couple hundred lives in China, and infections have climbed to more than 30,000 all over the world. There are still no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state of Texas.

"It's definitely something serious,” said Austin resident Juan Morinelli. "It's definitely something new that hasn't been dealt with."

Right now, state health officials in Texas have quarantined dozens of people in San Antonio who arrived today from a flight out of China to see if any develop illness that could be linked to coronavirus. They face 14 days under quarantine.

“Anyone who is ill with symptoms of coronavirus will be transported very quickly by EMS to a hospital that has been arranged through the local San Antonio health department,” said Captain Jennifer McQuiston, of the CDC in Texas.

"That was kind of scary to me because San Antonio, that's like an hour, hour 45 minutes down the road at max,” said Austin resident Emiliano Vasquez.

CDC did not specify where patients would be treated if any travelers are found to have coronavirus, but Pickett says Austin is fully prepared to transport patients with the virus safely.

"Coronavirus is not more contagious than influenza,” he said. “Really our usual precautions with a mask, gloves, eye protection from splashes are sufficient to protect our personnel."

Medics are asking anyone with symptoms like the flu if they have recently traveled to China and areas susceptible to coronavirus.

Pickett says coronavirus has a mortality rate of 2 percent. He says right now, people should not be worried about casual contact with anyone who may have traveled to China, but stresses that people should stay home if they do get sick.