Coronavirus concerns shutter Chinese New Year celebration in Lansing area

Though the coronavirus hasn’t affected the Lansing area after suspected cases reached parts of Michigan, some are concerned the illness originating from China will spread here, too.

As a precaution, the Chinese New Year celebration scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the Meridian Mall was postponed by its organizer, Meridian Township officials announced Friday.

Many of the entertainers the Greater Lansing Chinese Association had booked cancelled their appearances, officials explained.

This meant the show could not go on.

The virus began spreading within China in December, and then to several parts of Asia, France and the United States, where 22 suspected cases are currently being investigated, according to USA Today.

Now there are worries the virus could reach the Lansing area.

Risks of exposure in Greater Lansing?

In nearby East Lansing, Michigan State University officials sought to calm fears about the virus via a campus-wide email sent to students and faculty on Friday afternoon. 

“It is important to note that the risk of being exposed to coronavirus at MSU (or anywhere in the United States) is very low,” wrote David Weismantel, a university physician and professor at MSU.

Weismantel added, “there are no changes to any MSU programs, and there are currently no programs or personnel with registered travel in the affected region in China.”

Currently, there are suspicions the virus may have infected three Michigan residents: Two people from Washtenaw County and one person from Macomb County may have contracted the disease after traveling to Wuhan – the affected city in China – or coming in contact from people who traveled there.

In China, coronavirus has infected hundreds of people and killed 41.

What is the coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that may cause respiratory issues in humans and animals. The strain of the virus currently spreading, called the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, hasn't been seen before.

It was originally thought this new strain of the coronavirus was spreading from animal to person, according to a release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But as the virus evolves, there are still some unanswered questions. 

“.. there are growing indications that limited person-to-person spread is happening. It’s unclear how easily this virus is spreading between people,” the CDC added in a statement. 

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To learn more about the virus and its symptoms, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/about/symptoms.html

Contact LSJ reporter Kristan Obeng at KObeng@lsj.com or 517-267-1344. Follow her on Twitter @KrissyObeng.

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