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Department of Health Services says 6 people tested for coronavirus in WI


Seven area ThedaCare hospitals are implementing visitor restrictions during the flu season, January 6, 2020. (Photo courtesy of ThedaCare)
Seven area ThedaCare hospitals are implementing visitor restrictions during the flu season, January 6, 2020. (Photo courtesy of ThedaCare)
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(WLUK) -- Five cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed in the US so far. In Wisconsin 6 people have been tested for the new strain of the virus.

"We do not have any confirmed cases in Wisconsin. We are just working closely with Center for Disease Control and Prevention on identifying anyone who we should test," said Jeanne Ayers, the state Health Officer. "We are pleased to say we have no confirmed cases and one negative."

Test results from the other five could take another 24 to 36 hours.

Carol Bess with Bellin's infection prevention team says coronavirus symptoms are similar to the common cold.

"Cough, runny nose, fever," said Bess.

During a busy cold season, the new coronavirus can be hard to identify.

"There have been outbreaks other coronavirus’, influenza," said Tom Haupt, an Epidemiologist for the State's Health Department. "All it does is complicate the problem of people trying to identify this one specific virus. The coronavirus in and of itself does not have perfectly distinct symptoms that you can identify based on symptoms. That’s why it’s so important that we get a travel history from these people as soon as possible to try to put the connection together."

State health leaders want all recent travelers who have cold symptoms to separate themselves from people as much as possible and instead of going to a doctor or clinic, call ahead.

"It is more than likely that we will have more cases identified that will meet the criteria for testing over the next few days and weeks," said Haupt.

UW Platteville said last week that it's monitoring six students for coronavirus. All of them recently traveled to the part of China where the virus originated. The state wouldn't confirm whether the six people it has tested are those same students.

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