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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Coronavirus risk in WA ‘low’ after man diagnosed: Governor

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Coronavirus risk in WA ‘low’ after man diagnosed: Governor
Coronavirus risk in WA ‘low’ after man diagnosed: Governor

Washington Governor Jay Inslee on Tuesday said no special precautionary measures are necessary after a state resident was confirmed to have contracted the fatal Coronavirus.

A U.S. resident who recently traveled to China has been diagnosed with the newly identified coronavirus that has sickened more than 300 people and killed at least six in China, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Tuesday.

The U.S. patient is responding well to treatment and was not severely ill, CDC and Washington State health officials said.

The U.S. traveler from Washington state had returned on Jan.

15, arriving at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which is not on the U.S. list for enhanced screening.

The patient sought care at a medical facility in Everett, Washington, and was treated for the illness.

Based on his travel history and symptoms, healthcare professionals suspected the new coronavirus.

Specimens were taken from the patient and sent to the CDC for testing.

The agency said it has developed a new test that allowed it to identify the presence of the virus in a traveler.

Washington state health officials said they are taking steps to protect the public and continue to believe the risk is low.

Healthcare personnel are taking precautions to prevent the infection from spreading to hospital staff, they added.

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