The province is ready should the new strain of coronavirus that is spreading throughout the world arrive in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health says health care officials are meeting on a regular basis with federal and provincial counterparts and plans are in place.

Dr. Fitzgerald says the main exposure risk is among those who have traveled to Hubei province in China, or who have been in direct contact with known cases. Otherwise, the risk is low in Canada.

Infection prevention and control measures are a routine part of health care, but additional precautions have also been put in place.

If someone presents to an emergency department and identifies that they may have been exposed, then health care officials will isolate them and protective equipment is in place to ensure the patient gets the care they need.