A Cornell University student has presented symptoms of the new coronavirus, Cornell officials said in a statement Monday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently processing the student’s laboratory tests, which could take a full week. The student does not live on Cornell’s campus and is currently in isolation.

The Tompkins County Health Department is investigating any contact the student might have had with others at the university or in the community, Cornell said.

Cornell is about 50 miles away from Syracuse University. There have been no potential cases reported near SU’s campus.

The novel coronavirus, a respiratory disease, spreads through saliva and causes pneumonia-like symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever and coughing. Health officials believe the illness originated in Wuhan City, China.

SU announced a temporary travel restriction to China on Friday in response to the continued spread of the virus, which the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency. The U.S. State Department and the CDC have advised against traveling to China.

SU also “strongly” recommended that anyone traveling to China for personal reasons reconsider their plans, according to an SU News release. Anyone who travels to China during the temporary restriction will not be allowed in SU buildings or facilities for 14 days after returning to the U.S., university officials said.

SU previously announced plans to expedite a new travel and safety policy requiring all students and faculty to register any international travel plans prior to their departure.

The university will follow guidance from the State Department and the CDC to remove the restrictions “as soon as it is deemed safe to do so,” officials said.

There are no confirmed cases of the virus in New York state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement Tuesday.

The New York State Department of Health has sent test samples from 17 patients possibly infected with coronavirus to the CDC, Cuomo said. Eleven have tested negative and six other samples are still pending, he said.

Karen Nardella, medical director of SU Health Services, urged any students who have traveled to Wuhan recently or are displaying symptoms of the virus to contact medical personnel at the Barnes Center at The Arch immediately.

Published on February 4, 2020 at 10:17 pm

Contact Michael: msessa@syr.edu | @MichaelSessa3