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California Reports First Coronavirus Death as Symptoms Swirl on Cruise Ship California Reports First Coronavirus Death as Symptoms Swirl on Cruise Ship
(8 days later)
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as California confronted a deepening sense of crisis over the spread of the coronavirus on Wednesday, when an older patient in the Sacramento area died from the virus and a cruise ship carrying 21 people with symptoms was held off the coast of San Francisco.Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as California confronted a deepening sense of crisis over the spread of the coronavirus on Wednesday, when an older patient in the Sacramento area died from the virus and a cruise ship carrying 21 people with symptoms was held off the coast of San Francisco.
The person who died, in Placer County, was the 11th death linked to the virus in the United States, and the first outside of Washington State. The patient had underlying health conditions and was most likely exposed to the virus last month during international travel that included a cruise to Mexico, officials said.The person who died, in Placer County, was the 11th death linked to the virus in the United States, and the first outside of Washington State. The patient had underlying health conditions and was most likely exposed to the virus last month during international travel that included a cruise to Mexico, officials said.
Eleven passengers and 10 crew members who are still on that ship, the Grand Princess, were showing symptoms on Wednesday, Mr. Newsom said in an evening news conference. “That number may significantly understate” the scope of infection, he said, or “it may indeed be abundance of caution.” Public health officials prepared to screen everyone aboard the ship, which was not yet allowed to return to shore, Mr. Newsom said.Eleven passengers and 10 crew members who are still on that ship, the Grand Princess, were showing symptoms on Wednesday, Mr. Newsom said in an evening news conference. “That number may significantly understate” the scope of infection, he said, or “it may indeed be abundance of caution.” Public health officials prepared to screen everyone aboard the ship, which was not yet allowed to return to shore, Mr. Newsom said.
The Grand Princess is owned by Princess Cruises, the same company that runs the Diamond Princess, a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship that was quarantined off the coast of Japan last month. On Thursday, the company said in a statement that while there were no confirmed cases onboard the vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard would deliver testing kits to the ship by helicopter.The Grand Princess is owned by Princess Cruises, the same company that runs the Diamond Princess, a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship that was quarantined off the coast of Japan last month. On Thursday, the company said in a statement that while there were no confirmed cases onboard the vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard would deliver testing kits to the ship by helicopter.
The company said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had identified “fewer than 100” passengers and crew members to be tested before their arrival in San Francisco. A medical team on board will administer the tests, and the samples will be sent in batches by helicopter to a lab in Richmond, Calif., the statement said.The company said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had identified “fewer than 100” passengers and crew members to be tested before their arrival in San Francisco. A medical team on board will administer the tests, and the samples will be sent in batches by helicopter to a lab in Richmond, Calif., the statement said.
Among the new California cases of coronavirus announced on Wednesday were six in Los Angeles County: three people who had traveled together in Northern Italy; two relatives who had been in contact with a family member who previously tested positive; and a medical contractor for the Department of Homeland Security, whose job included screening passengers at Los Angeles International Airport.Among the new California cases of coronavirus announced on Wednesday were six in Los Angeles County: three people who had traveled together in Northern Italy; two relatives who had been in contact with a family member who previously tested positive; and a medical contractor for the Department of Homeland Security, whose job included screening passengers at Los Angeles International Airport.
While local officials said they had traced all six cases to known exposure sources, federal officials said they could not say whether the airport screener had contracted the virus while working or as a result of the virus spreading in the community.While local officials said they had traced all six cases to known exposure sources, federal officials said they could not say whether the airport screener had contracted the virus while working or as a result of the virus spreading in the community.
Three more cases in Santa Clara County were also announced, and the many developments represented a significant escalation of the situation in California, which has had at least 54 cases of the virus, the most of any state. Officials in Los Angeles County — with 10 million residents, the largest county in the nation — declared a state of emergency, warning that the number of confirmed cases was likely to rise.Three more cases in Santa Clara County were also announced, and the many developments represented a significant escalation of the situation in California, which has had at least 54 cases of the virus, the most of any state. Officials in Los Angeles County — with 10 million residents, the largest county in the nation — declared a state of emergency, warning that the number of confirmed cases was likely to rise.
“This is a call for preparedness,” Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said at a news conference on Wednesday. “Know what you might do should we see an explosion of cases.”“This is a call for preparedness,” Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said at a news conference on Wednesday. “Know what you might do should we see an explosion of cases.”
While seeking to tamp down public anxieties, officials also warned that a worsening spread of the coronavirus could potentially lead to a grim new reality. Officials could order “extreme measures of social distancing.” Major sporting events could be played without spectators. Schools could shut down.While seeking to tamp down public anxieties, officials also warned that a worsening spread of the coronavirus could potentially lead to a grim new reality. Officials could order “extreme measures of social distancing.” Major sporting events could be played without spectators. Schools could shut down.
“This is the time for people to have a plan for what they would do should their child’s school need to close,” Dr. Ferrer said.“This is the time for people to have a plan for what they would do should their child’s school need to close,” Dr. Ferrer said.
Dr. Jonathan Fielding, a public health expert at the University of California, Los Angeles, said that the number of cases in California, a large state that is a frequent entry point for travel from Asia, was likely to rise, particularly as officials increase their capacity to test and diagnose cases.Dr. Jonathan Fielding, a public health expert at the University of California, Los Angeles, said that the number of cases in California, a large state that is a frequent entry point for travel from Asia, was likely to rise, particularly as officials increase their capacity to test and diagnose cases.
“What was unfortunately predictable has now come into direct line of consciousness for many people who were hoping it would not happen,” said Dr. Fielding, who previously worked as the public health director for Los Angeles County. He added, “It’s very likely that it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”“What was unfortunately predictable has now come into direct line of consciousness for many people who were hoping it would not happen,” said Dr. Fielding, who previously worked as the public health director for Los Angeles County. He added, “It’s very likely that it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
Updated July 27, 2020 Updated August 3, 2020
The 11 deaths in the United States are a small fraction of the more than 3,000 deaths that have been traced to the virus worldwide. Early estimates of the coronavirus death rate from China, the epicenter of the outbreak, have been around 2 percent. On average, seasonal flu strains kill about 0.1 percent of people who become infected.The 11 deaths in the United States are a small fraction of the more than 3,000 deaths that have been traced to the virus worldwide. Early estimates of the coronavirus death rate from China, the epicenter of the outbreak, have been around 2 percent. On average, seasonal flu strains kill about 0.1 percent of people who become infected.
The first coronavirus deaths in the United States were reported over the weekend in King County, Wash., which includes Seattle. On Wednesday, officials announced that a 10th person had died in Washington State, as ramped-up testing offered troubling evidence of how widely the virus had spread.The first coronavirus deaths in the United States were reported over the weekend in King County, Wash., which includes Seattle. On Wednesday, officials announced that a 10th person had died in Washington State, as ramped-up testing offered troubling evidence of how widely the virus had spread.
Before Mr. Newsom’s announcement, a spokeswoman for Princess Cruises, Negin Kamali, said the C.D.C. was investigating a “small cluster” of coronavirus cases in Northern California linked to the Grand Princess. The person who died in Placer County and at least one other passenger who later tested positive finished their cruise in San Francisco, disembarking with others on Feb. 21. But 62 passengers who were on the ship with them remain on board.Before Mr. Newsom’s announcement, a spokeswoman for Princess Cruises, Negin Kamali, said the C.D.C. was investigating a “small cluster” of coronavirus cases in Northern California linked to the Grand Princess. The person who died in Placer County and at least one other passenger who later tested positive finished their cruise in San Francisco, disembarking with others on Feb. 21. But 62 passengers who were on the ship with them remain on board.
Princess Cruises said on Wednesday that it had instructed those passengers to stay in their rooms until they were cleared by the ship’s medical staff. “You may order room service while you wait for the medical screening to be completed,” the cruise line wrote in a letter to passengers, “and we apologize for any inconvenience.”Princess Cruises said on Wednesday that it had instructed those passengers to stay in their rooms until they were cleared by the ship’s medical staff. “You may order room service while you wait for the medical screening to be completed,” the cruise line wrote in a letter to passengers, “and we apologize for any inconvenience.”
The declaration of a local emergency in Los Angeles County and elsewhere — the mayor of San Francisco previously declared a state of emergency for the city — reflects an effort by officials to allocate resources and get ahead of what they expect will be a growing number of confirmed cases.The declaration of a local emergency in Los Angeles County and elsewhere — the mayor of San Francisco previously declared a state of emergency for the city — reflects an effort by officials to allocate resources and get ahead of what they expect will be a growing number of confirmed cases.
One possible area of concern is California’s significant number of homeless people, a population that is likely to be at higher risk for severe cases of the illness. Officials said they were working with agencies that serve homeless residents to come up with a plan, should the spread of the virus begin to escalate.One possible area of concern is California’s significant number of homeless people, a population that is likely to be at higher risk for severe cases of the illness. Officials said they were working with agencies that serve homeless residents to come up with a plan, should the spread of the virus begin to escalate.
Of the six cases in Los Angeles County, one person is hospitalized and the other five were being monitored at home, officials said.Of the six cases in Los Angeles County, one person is hospitalized and the other five were being monitored at home, officials said.
A previous case in Los Angeles County had been diagnosed in January, when a person who lived in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus originated, traveled to Los Angeles County. That person has been cleared and is no longer infectious, officials said.A previous case in Los Angeles County had been diagnosed in January, when a person who lived in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus originated, traveled to Los Angeles County. That person has been cleared and is no longer infectious, officials said.
David Yaffe-Bellany and Zolan Kanno-Youngs contributed reporting.David Yaffe-Bellany and Zolan Kanno-Youngs contributed reporting.