Live updates: Coronavirus was probably spreading for six weeks in Washington state, study says

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/03/01/coronavirus-live-updates/

By Katie Mettler, Alex Horton, Meryl Kornfield and Paul Schemm

March 1, 2020 at 1:45 p.m. EST

The novel coronavirus has probably been spreading undetected for about six weeks in Washington state, where the first U.S. death was reported this weekend. A genetic analysis suggests that the cases are linked through community transmission and that this has been going on for weeks, with hundreds of infections likely in the state.

Two new cases were confirmed in Washington state on Sunday in King County, according to the state health department, bringing that state’s total to eight. Rhode Island announced its first likely case. If confirmed, it will be the second on the East Coast, after a previously announced case in Massachusetts. The Rhode Island patient is in his 40s and had traveled to Europe in mid-February.

The United States, Australia and Thailand each reported their first coronavirus-related deaths over the weekend, all in the span of about 12 hours. Covid-19 has killed patients on four continents, with the global death toll climbing toward 3,000.

The first U.S. death, in Washington state, was man in his 50s with underlying health conditions, officials said. The patient had no recent travel history or contact with people known to be infected, officials said.

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Also: NYT: Coronavirus May Have Spread in U.S. for Weeks, Gene Sequencing Suggests

[Midnight Writer]

1. Contagion is like roaches. If you see one, there are probably hundreds more you don't see.