The principal of Muscatine High School (MHS) has issued a statement assuring the public that there is a low risk of exposure to the coronavirus as the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra is scheduled to perform on Thursday.

The Jan. 30 event in the school’s auditorium will feature the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, the Little Ants Kunqu Opera Art Troupe and the Zhejiang Shaoju Opera Theater.

The show, which marks the Chinese Lunar New Year, is described by a Muscatine City webpage as “a dazzling combination of traditional and modern Chinese music, vocal art, costumes and acrobatics will delight all attendees” .

However, some members of the public fear a visit by Chinese artists could pose a coronavirus threat.

“It’s kind of scary,” Facebook user Connie Doak said Tuesday.

“No good I don’t know if it’s worth the risk [sic].”

Facebook user Joe Corman asked in a post: ‘What if someone is infected from there and just isn’t showing any signs yet?’

The coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, China, but a handful of confirmed cases have since been reported in other parts of the world, including the states of Illinois, Arizona, California and Washington. in the USA.

MHS Principal Terry Hogenson

On Monday, the announcement of the upcoming performance “raised the concern of several families”.

Artists visiting from China “do not come directly from the Wuhan providence as it is currently in lockdown, not allowing travel,” Hogenson said, citing advice received from health officials.

“And while there are cases outside of China, the risk is low for the general population.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends avoiding non-essential travel to Hubei Province, China, and those traveling to other parts of China should avoid those who are sick and practice good hygiene hands.

“For the general public, no additional precautions are recommended at this time beyond the simple daily precautions that everyone should always take,” said the

.