New Orleans City Council members grilled the city’s top health official Thursday on the city’s preparations in case of a coronavirus outbreak.

The city is still finalizing its response plan should the COVID-19 disease reach New Orleans, Health Department Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno told the council. But she said that plan will be shaped by long-established city plans for other infectious diseases.

Coronavirus FAQs: See answers to who's at risk, when to get tested, pet safety, more The new coronavirus continues to spread in the U.S., with 165 confirmed cases in 18 states and 11 deaths on the West Coast.

Avegno said only the state Department of Health can declare a health emergency for New Orleans, and only the state can declare quarantines for individuals who might be affected. She said the city is ready to aid the state in tracing the virus' source, should a local case be confirmed.

"We have been having almost daily conversations with the Louisiana Department of Health," the federal government and other partners, Avegno said. "I feel very confident that New Orleans is going to be well prepared to weather this."

Council members questioned Avegno about hand-sanitizing stations in public buildings, how rapidly COVID-19 can spread and other matters in a conversation meant both to discourage public panic and to help residents recognize that the virus is likely to reach a tourist center like New Orleans in time.

In fact, given the recent Carnival season and the sharing of "beads, shoes, doubloons and everything else, it’s highly possible that this virus is already in the city of New Orleans, and we need to plan accordingly," Councilman Jason Williams said.

The virus, which originated in China, continues to spread across the U.S., with more than 160 confirmed cases in 18 states and 11 deaths. There are no confirmed cases in Louisiana, but officials have said it is likely the virus either has already arrived and is undetected or will arrive in short order.

COVID-19 is a new strain from the family of so-called coronaviruses, which cause everything from the common cold to fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Transmitted by coughs or sneezing, the virus is most likely to seriously affect elderly adults and those with existing medical conditions.

There is no vaccine, though work to develop one is underway. Once it infects a person, the virus can incubate for up to two weeks.

The latest fatality rate for COVID-19 is 3.4%, compared to a flu fatality rate of less than 1%. But Avegno said that seemingly high figure could decline as more and more people take the test created in December to detect COVID-19.

Only the state can isolate people who may have been exposed to the virus, but the city will work with the state should it pull that trigger, Avegno said.

The city Health Department expects to complete its official COVID-19 response plan in the coming weeks.

Two more Catholic school teachers opt to 'self-quarantine,' citing coronavirus scare For the second consecutive day, the Archdiocese of New Orleans said that two teachers at an area Catholic school have opted to stay home in a …

Meanwhile, the city and its partners will complete an exercise Friday meant to inform that plan, Avegno said. The department's staff is also prepared to work overtime to help trace the virus in residents, should a case be confirmed.

"Say a person shows up at the hospital and tests positive for COVID-19. I want to know everywhere you've been in the last 14 days, every person you talked to ... so we can then figure out, how did you get this virus, and who might you have spread it to?" Avegno said in an interview after the meeting.

Though the city has long put hand-sanitizing stations in its buildings, "there's not a need to go out and buy an entire pharmacy stock of hand sanitizer," she said. Instead, washing hands thoroughly with soap and water will work just fine.

Councilwoman Helena Moreno urged residents to limit public greetings, often done in New Orleans through a hug or a kiss, to less intimate interactions.