Key things we’ve learned this week as the deadly coronavirus outbreak grows in the US
It’s been a week of dizzying coronavirus developments in the United States, with fear growing as deaths skyrocketed within days from one to 14 people nationwide.
There are now 228 confirmed cases in the United States alone, and that may go up as testing becomes more accessible.
Here are the key things we’ve learned this week:
The number of affected states is growing
The confirmed coronavirus cases are spread over 19 states.
Washington state has the largest number at 70 confirmed cases, including 13 deaths. California has 49 infections, including one fatality. New York has 22 positive cases; Illinois has five; Texas and Florida both have four, and the remaining states have three or fewer cases.
In New York alone, more than 2,500 people have been ordered to self-quarantine as health officials search for anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.
A cruise ship with 3,500 people is in limbo at sea
A cruise ship in limbo off the California coast with about 3,500 people aboard will get results from dozens of coronavirus tests Friday.
The California Air National Guard dropped off test kits by helicopter Thursday after learning that the first person to die of the virus in the state previously traveled on the Grand Princess.
Medical officials collected samples for testing from 45 people aboard. The Grand Princess was on a two-week trip from San Francisco to Hawaii and was scheduled to return Saturday. The California man’s death was the first fatality outside Washington state. He took a cruise from San Francisco to Mexico on the same ship last month.
A frantic search for answers at a nursing home
Family members cut off from loved ones inside a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington, are searching for information after the outbreak killed several people there.
At a press conference outside the nursing home, some relatives said their loved ones died without knowing whether the virus was responsible. Pat Herrick — who first expressed concerns to CNN on Tuesday about the situation at the nursing home — says her mother, Elaine, died Thursday morning after living at Life Care Center for seven years.
Hundreds are denied entry into the US
Homeland Security denied US entry to 241 people because of the coronavirus. The figures were recorded within the past month, and did not include a country breakdown for those refused entry at the airports. An additional 106 foreigners were denied entry before arriving in the US at preclearance airports, where customs officials conduct screening overseas.
In February, the United States started implementing stringent travel restrictions to contain the outbreak
Congress approves billions to fight outbreak
The Senate approved a sweeping spending package to direct $8.3 billion toward the government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. The package now goes to the White House for the President’s signature. It passed the House with broad, bipartisan support. It provides $7.8 billion in appropriations to address the outbreak of coronavirus as well as $500 million to fund a telehealth program to expand senior access to health services — a total of $8.3 billion in all.
The US does not have enough testing kits
Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the administration’s response to the outbreak, admitted the available testing kits are not enough to meet demand after new guidance made testing accessible to patients with only a doctor’s order.
Experts have questioned whether the United States can meet the likely surge in testing demand that will follow the change in guidelines.
Between CDC tests and those from a private company, IDT, there will be a nationwide capacity to test 475,000 people by the end of the week, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said. He said he hopes IDT will ramp up production of kits to be able to test about a million and a half people by the end of next week.
Global experts warn this is ‘not a drill’
The World Health Organization is warning governments that the global spread of the coronavirus is “not a drill” and will require significant steps to contain.
The call to action comes as the global number of people infected by the virus nears 100,000 — a grim milestone that appears inevitable with small clusters of cases expanding in South Korea, Japan, parts of Europe, Iran and the United States.
