First COVID-19 Death in the United States: Man in Washington State

, 0

Washington state’s Department of Health confirmed Saturday the first death in the United States that’s attributable to the novel coronavirus.

A man in his 50s in King County has died from COVid-19, the department said in a media advisory.

The department is hosting a press conference at 1 p.m. to provide further details.

Gov. Jay Inslee released the following statement:

“It is a sad day in our state as we learn that a Washingtonian has died from COVID-19. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. We will continue to work toward a day where no one dies from this virus.

“In partnership with the Washington State Department of Health, the Washington State Department of Emergency Management and local and community health partners, we are strengthening our preparedness and response efforts. I am committed to keeping Washingtonians healthy, safe and informed.”

Health officials have also said there are new King County cases in addition to the two new cases confirmed Friday evening. The Department of Health announced Friday evening two presumptively positive cases of coronavirus, including a school-aged student in Snohomish County.

A student from Jackson High School in Mill Creek with no travel history is one of the people infected with the COVID-19 virus. The student started feeling ill Monday with body aches, chills and a headache, the department said. Health officials said the student returned to school when he started feeling better, before results Friday revealed the child was sick with coronavirus.

Everett Public Schools said in a tweet Friday evening Jackson High School will be closed March 2 for three days to disinfect the campus.

The other presumed positive coronavirus test was a woman in her 50s from King County. Health officials said the woman traveled to Daegu, South Korea Feb. 7-23 and returned to Seattle to work Monday before she felt symptoms Tuesday. She reported her symptoms to health officials Wednesday and was tested for the virus Thursday.

Her results came back positive Friday.

Health officials said she is improving without any complications. The woman has not been in public since her symptoms started, the department said, and her husband is under home quarantine.

As this story is breaking, it will be updated with more details.

Outbreak is at the Life Care longterm facility in Kirkland, Washington. New presumptive cases are in their 60s and 70s. One case is a worker there in her 40s.

The long-term care facility in Kirkland has 108 residents and 180 staff members. So far, 27 residents have symptoms as do 25 staff members.

Dr. Jeff Duchin, Allergy and Infectious Dis. Adjunct Professor, Epidemiology. Health Officer, Public Health Seattle and King County Faculty

Dr. Francis Riedo, infectious disease physician who spoke for Evergreen Hospital where the cases are being treated.

The case of the woman in her 50s who traveled to South Korea… she’s now at home and self-managing care because her symptoms are not serious.

Washington state now has six presumptively positive cases, two are from Shonomish County.

New coronavirus strain

The United States overall has 68 confirmed cases of COVid-19, with most of the cases being Americans evacuated off the Diamond Princess cruise ship.