SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Health officials announced another case of the new coronavirus in Silicon Valley, adding to the more than 30 who've had the virus in California.
The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department confirmed the new case of coronavirus [COVID-19] on Friday, Feb, 28. More information about the new case will be provided at a press conference held by the health department. This is the second case of novel coronavirus in the United States believed to have been transmitted to a person who didn’t travel internationally or come in close contact with anyone who had it.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that officials are “aware of a second possible instance of community spread of COVID-19 in California." The CDC said in a statement that the patient has tested positive for the virus and is considered a presumptive positive case.
Residents in Northern California are at the epicenter of what officials are calling a turning point in the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus in the U.S. Investigators are rushing to retrace the steps of a patient they believe to be the first known person in the U.S. to be infected without traveling internationally or being in close contact with anyone who had it.
The woman first went to the hospital in Vacaville, between San Francisco and Sacramento.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is believed to have been first detected in a seafood market in Wuhan, China in December 2019. According to the CDC, coronavirus is a family of viruses that is spreadable from person to person. If someone is sick with coronavirus, the symptoms they may show include mild to severe respiratory illness, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Currently, there is no vaccine, however, the CDC suggests the following precautions, along with any other respiratory illness:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
The CDC also says facemasks should only be used by people who show symptoms of the virus. If you’re not sick, you do not have to wear a facemask. The CDC says the immediate risk to the U.S. public is low.
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