The First Cases of Coronavirus in San Francisco
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Two presumptive Cases of Coronavirus in San Francisco were announced by officials on Thursday. Residents are considered to have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, marking the first cases in the city.
Health officials announced two cases of assumptive positive coronavirus in two unrelated patients who are being cared for in separate hospitals and have no known prior contact with COVID-19. Officials stated the cases are “likely indicative of community transmission of COVID-19.”
The patients are “contained,” Mayor London Breed declared at a press conference.
One patient is a man in his 90s with preexisting health conditions; he is hospitalized in serious condition. The other is a woman in her 40s; she is also hospitalized but in fair condition.
The patients are in various local hospitals; the specific locations aren’t being revealed.
“We want everyone to remain calm and continue taking precautions to keep themselves and their families healthy,” Mayor London Breed maintained.
“We have been increasing resources and staffing to prepare for the community spread of this virus, and we will do everything we can protect public health. The City is in regular contact with all hospitals and health facilities in San Francisco, and our health system is prepared to deliver care to everyone in need and provide a coordinated response as additional cases of the novel coronavirus are confirmed.”
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“All appropriate precautions for the patient, visitors, and hospital staff are being taken,” the public health department stated in a statement.
“DPH informed the patients’ families this morning, and is investigating the patients’ history and contacts to protect the health of individuals and help slow the spread of the virus in the community.”
The patients were examined on Wednesday and the results were confirmed positive Thursday.
Dr. Grant Colfax with the Department of Health said neither patient recently traveled to a destination with an outbreak or had contact with a person known to be infected with the virus. The cases are unrelated and likely the result of “community exposure,” Colfax stated.
“We have been preparing for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in San Francisco for many weeks and we are ready to support our health care providers and those who may have been exposed,” stated Mary Ellen Carroll, Executive Director, Department of Emergency Management.
“It is understandable to worry what community spread of the virus means to San Francisco, but we can rest assured that together that we can minimize the impact COVID-19 may have on us. Continuing healthy habits like washing hands, staying home if sick, and helping loved ones to avoid getting sick will make a huge difference in the fight against COVID-19 infection in San Francisco.”
As the new coronavirus continues to spread around the world. People are cautioned to frequently wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, cover their coughing and sneezing, and stay home if they’re sick.
The States Health Official Announcements
The health department is urging San Francisco residents to First wash their hands, Second cover their coughs, and Third to stay home if they’re sick. To add up the department states to get a flu shot, avoid shaking hands, and follow the guidelines from public health officials if you’ve recently traveled to a country with a COVID-19 outbreak.
The department announced people can prepare by making sure you have a supply of necessary medications and developing a plan for what you would do if you or a caregiver were sick, your child’s school closed, or a family member became sick and you had to care for him or her.
“There is no recommendation to wear masks at this time to prevent yourself from getting sick,” the department said.
California on Wednesday declared a state of emergency over the virus as more cases begin to crop up and testing slowly becomes more widely available. In the U.S., 11 people have died—10 in Washington state and one in California north of Sacramento—while more than 213 have been infected, according to Johns Hopkins.
New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle have also reported cases in the last few weeks, according to Johns Hopkins.
The pneumonia-like virus originated in Wuhan, China, and is spreading around the globe. more than 94,000 people have contracted the virus worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, with more than 3,200 deaths. WHO reports that the COVID-19 virus is more fatal than the common flu.
