The outbreak of the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV, first reported from Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has been named a global health emergency by the World Health Organization. As of February 7, 2019, The Washington Post reported that Chinese health officials said they had confirmed more than 31,000 cases of people sick with the virus, more than 4,800 of those considered severe, with a death toll of more than 630. As of this date cases have been reported in 25 countries, including 12 in the United States.

To help health providers prepare for the possibility that this outbreak could become a public health crisis in the United States, the ECRI Institute has launched a Coronavirus Outbreak Preparedness Center on its website to offer medical device resources and general guidance. All of the materials provided are free and publicly accessible, and they include:

• Articles on infection prevention and control

• An equipment checklist for outbreak preparedness and response

• A directory of suppliers for personal protective equipment

• An overview and ratings of ventilators needed for mass-casualty critical care

• Links to external sources of information such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.