Coronavirus outbreak: First death confirmed in the US
What's the story
The US has reported its first confirmed death from coronavirus. A man in his mid-50s is reported to have passed away due to the novel virus-caused COVID-19 disease in the north-west state of Washington. In addition to this, officials have also reported two new cases in the state, both linked to a long-term care facility. Here's all you need to know about it.
Death
Death: Man in mid-50s with underlying health conditions
A few hours ago, officials from the EvergreenHealth Medical Center in King County, Washington, confirmed the death of a person from coronavirus. Jeff Duchin, a health officer for Public Health Seattle & King County, later held a press conference to announce that the individual who passed away was a man in his mid-50s who was suffering from chronic underlying health conditions.
Details
No word on how he contracted the virus
The person who died was admitted to the Medical Center with severe respiratory problems and was then tested positive for the virus. However, it still remains unclear how exactly the man contracted the virus, given that he had no history of travel outside of the US or known contact with anyone who had tested positive for COVID-19.
Twitter Post
Here's the statement from Jay Inslee, the Governor of Washington
It is a sad day as we learn a Washingtonian has died from COVID-19. Our hearts go out to his family and friends.
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) February 29, 2020
We are strengthening our preparedness and response efforts to keep Washingtonians healthy, safe and informed.
Full statement: https://t.co/F3xn4afjG5 pic.twitter.com/yTG6omGcLI
President's comments
Meanwhile, President Trump urges calm
In the wake of the first confirmed death, President Donald Trump urged Americans to stay calm; he noted more cases were "likely", but the risk remains low for the average person. "Healthy individuals should be able to fully recover, and we think that will be a statement that we can make with great surety now that we've gotten familiar with this problem," Trump added.
Risk
Risk of outbreak looming over Washington
Health officials have also identified two more cases of coronavirus in Washington state, both linked to a care facility. One of the patients, in her 70s, is in critical condition, while the other, a healthcare worker, is said to be in satisfactory condition. The facility hosts 280+ people, and more than 50 of them have symptoms of coronavirus; they all are being tested now.
Situation
Nearly 3,000 have died from coronavirus
So far, more than 86,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported around the world, and nearly 3,000 people have passed away. India has just reported 3 cases, but those in South Korea, Iran, Italy, and Japan continue to increase. Just recently, South Korea reported another 376 coronavirus cases, taking the national total to 3,526 cases and 17 deaths.
Information
Travel restrictions imposed for Iran
Due to growing concerns over the outbreak outside China, the epicenter of the disease, President Trump also announced travel restrictions for Iran, which reported the most coronavirus deaths outside China, and advised fellow citizens not to visit certain regions of Italy and South Korea.