TEXAS.
TEXAS. THE CORONAVIRUS IS SPARKING A
LOT OF CONCERN AND QUESTIONS
ABOUT HOW IT SPREADS.
>> GORDON SEVERSON SET OUT TO
FIND SOME ANSWERS.
>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH THE
VAST MAJORITY OF THESE
CORONAVIRUS CASES ARE HAPPENING
IN CHINA WHERE IT STARTED, SOME
OF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT
GETTING IT HERE.
JULIE JOHNSON EMAILED US
ASKING, CAN I GET CORONAVIRUS
FROM A PACKAGE BEING DELIVERED
FROM CHINA?
FROM CHINA? THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
SO, I REACHED OUT TO THE
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
TO FIND OUT.
AND THE ANSWER IS NO.
HERE IS WHY.
>> THE TIME IT WOULD TAKE FOR
IT TO GET HERE WOULD BE PLENTY
OF TIME FOR THE VIRUS TO LOSE
ITS VIABILITY.
ITS VIABILITY. >> Reporter: CHRIS ERISMAN SAYS
OUTSIDE THE HUMAN BODY, THE
CORONAVIRUS CAN ONLY SURVIVE ON
INANIMATE OBJECTS FOR A FEW
HOURS.
HOURS.
HOURS. MAY BE A DAY OR TWO, AND
PERFECT LABORATORY CONDITIONS.
AND, ACCORDING TO FEDEX, THE
FASTEST A PACKAGE COULD GET
HERE TO AMERICA FROM CHINA IS
ABOUT FOUR DAYS.
>> IF YOU SET UP SORT OF THE
PERFECT BAD SCENARIO WHERE YOU
ORDERED YOUR FAVORITE THING
FROM CHINA AND THE PERSON WHO
PACKAGED IT FOR YOU SNEEZED ON
THE BOX, BY THE TIME I GOT TO
YOU IN MINNESOTA, THE VIRUS
WOULD NOT BE A CONCERN.
>> Reporter: BUT WHAT ABOUT THE
AIRPORT?
AIRPORT?
AIRPORT? COULD YOU POSSIBLY GET THE
CORONAVIRUS FROM ANOTHER
TRAVELER?
TRAVELER?
TRAVELER? AGAIN, IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY.
SHE SAYS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
HAS TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN
PLACE AND THE CDC IS TESTING
ALL TRAVELERS COMING INTO THE
COUNTRY FROM AFFECTED REGIONS.
AND RIGHT NOW, EXPERTS SAY THIS
STRAIN OF CORONAVIRUS IS LESS
CONTAGIOUS THAN OTHERS.
>> SO, NO.
THE IDEA THAT YOU WOULD JUST
HAPPEN TO BE GOING TO THE
AIRPORT AND SOMEHOW PICK THIS
UP, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT.
>> Reporter: WE CAN VERIFY, IT
IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE
CORONAVIRUS FROM A PACKAGE
SHIPPED FROM CHINA AND IT IS
VERY UNLIKELY YOU WILL CATCH IT
AT THE AIRPORT.
FOR VERIFY, I AM GORDON