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California and Coronavirus: Six Cases Are Confirmed in the State California and Coronavirus: Six Cases Are Confirmed in the State
(1 day later)
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SAN FRANCISCO — Health officials on Sunday confirmed three more cases of coronavirus in California, raising questions about the state’s vulnerability in the outbreak as measures to quarantine people who had traveled to China came into effect.SAN FRANCISCO — Health officials on Sunday confirmed three more cases of coronavirus in California, raising questions about the state’s vulnerability in the outbreak as measures to quarantine people who had traveled to China came into effect.
There are now six cases in California, two of which are in Southern California and four in the San Francisco Bay Area. Two of the new patients were a married couple, only one of whom had traveled to China, the California Department of Public Health said.There are now six cases in California, two of which are in Southern California and four in the San Francisco Bay Area. Two of the new patients were a married couple, only one of whom had traveled to China, the California Department of Public Health said.
“The novel coronavirus is a serious public health concern, however the risk to the general public in California remains low,” Dr. Sonia Angell, the director of the state’s public health department, said in a statement.“The novel coronavirus is a serious public health concern, however the risk to the general public in California remains low,” Dr. Sonia Angell, the director of the state’s public health department, said in a statement.
California not only has the most cases of any state, it is also on the forefront of quarantine efforts in the United States. On Friday, the federal government imposed a 14-day quarantine for 195 people who were evacuated to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County after fleeing the outbreak’s epicenter in Wuhan, China.California not only has the most cases of any state, it is also on the forefront of quarantine efforts in the United States. On Friday, the federal government imposed a 14-day quarantine for 195 people who were evacuated to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County after fleeing the outbreak’s epicenter in Wuhan, China.
And Americans whose flights took off from China after 5 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday and who had spent time recently in Hubei Province, where Wuhan is the provincial capital, will be subject to a quarantine of up to two weeks under restrictions announced by the Trump administration.And Americans whose flights took off from China after 5 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday and who had spent time recently in Hubei Province, where Wuhan is the provincial capital, will be subject to a quarantine of up to two weeks under restrictions announced by the Trump administration.
The State Department selected two other military bases in California — Travis Air Force Base in Solano County and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego County — to house some of the estimated 1,000 people who might need to be quarantined upon arrival after having traveled overseas.The State Department selected two other military bases in California — Travis Air Force Base in Solano County and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego County — to house some of the estimated 1,000 people who might need to be quarantined upon arrival after having traveled overseas.
Though the disease has killed more than 360 people worldwide, the outbreak remains limited in the United States.Though the disease has killed more than 360 people worldwide, the outbreak remains limited in the United States.
The case of the married couple, who live in San Benito County, was the first involving the household person-to-person transmission of coronavirus in California, public health officials said.The case of the married couple, who live in San Benito County, was the first involving the household person-to-person transmission of coronavirus in California, public health officials said.
In the four other cases — two in Santa Clara County and one each in Los Angeles and Orange Counties — the patient is believed to have picked up the infection in Wuhan, China, the center of the outbreak, before traveling to California.In the four other cases — two in Santa Clara County and one each in Los Angeles and Orange Counties — the patient is believed to have picked up the infection in Wuhan, China, the center of the outbreak, before traveling to California.
Updated Feb. 7, 2020 Updated Feb.8, 2020
Dr. Angell said in a recorded video message last week that the health risk to the general public in California was low. “But we still consider this a serious public health concern,” she said. Around 40 people in California have been tested for the disease, according to the department.Dr. Angell said in a recorded video message last week that the health risk to the general public in California was low. “But we still consider this a serious public health concern,” she said. Around 40 people in California have been tested for the disease, according to the department.
But understanding the specific risks to the state center on questions that have not yet been answered: How transmissible is the disease? And how long is its incubation period? Estimates of the incubation period range from two days to two weeks.But understanding the specific risks to the state center on questions that have not yet been answered: How transmissible is the disease? And how long is its incubation period? Estimates of the incubation period range from two days to two weeks.
Christine Kreuder Johnson, an infectious disease expert at the University of California, Davis, said California is more vulnerable than some other places in the United States because of the large number of people in the state traveling back and forth to China.Christine Kreuder Johnson, an infectious disease expert at the University of California, Davis, said California is more vulnerable than some other places in the United States because of the large number of people in the state traveling back and forth to China.
“It does put us right on that front line,” she said.“It does put us right on that front line,” she said.
Many flights from China entered the state before the disease was recognized and screenings at the San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York airports were put into place on Jan 17.Many flights from China entered the state before the disease was recognized and screenings at the San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York airports were put into place on Jan 17.
It is an open question, Dr. Johnson said, whether any passengers on the earlier flights were infected and transmitted the disease to others.It is an open question, Dr. Johnson said, whether any passengers on the earlier flights were infected and transmitted the disease to others.
On Friday, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines said they were suspending all service to mainland China.On Friday, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines said they were suspending all service to mainland China.
Dr. Johnson said she was optimistic based on the previous outbreaks like SARS that the coronavirus can be extinguished.Dr. Johnson said she was optimistic based on the previous outbreaks like SARS that the coronavirus can be extinguished.
“There is good hope for it to be controlled,” she said.“There is good hope for it to be controlled,” she said.
Among the 195 people quarantined on the military base in Southern California were diplomats, infants, a football player and a theme-park designer.Among the 195 people quarantined on the military base in Southern California were diplomats, infants, a football player and a theme-park designer.
Their flight was the only one organized by the State Department leaving Wuhan.Their flight was the only one organized by the State Department leaving Wuhan.
“It’s not Club Med, but we’re fortunate to be here,” said Matthew McCoy, the theme-park designer who lives in Shanghai but was in Wuhan working on a mall he is refashioning. “I try to stay busy with my work, social media and my hotel workout regimen.”“It’s not Club Med, but we’re fortunate to be here,” said Matthew McCoy, the theme-park designer who lives in Shanghai but was in Wuhan working on a mall he is refashioning. “I try to stay busy with my work, social media and my hotel workout regimen.”
The evacuees have their temperatures taken regularly and their noses swabbed. They have been advised against shaking hands or hugging.The evacuees have their temperatures taken regularly and their noses swabbed. They have been advised against shaking hands or hugging.
While the spread of the disease has been limited in California, it has already had a social impact.While the spread of the disease has been limited in California, it has already had a social impact.
College students from mainland China as well as Americans in California of East Asian descent are reporting suspicious glances on public transport and rising xenophobia.College students from mainland China as well as Americans in California of East Asian descent are reporting suspicious glances on public transport and rising xenophobia.
At the University of California, Berkeley, which has a large Chinese student population, officials apologized after the university health center posted an image that included “xenophobia” among a list of “common reactions” to the coronavirus. It was condemned as giving legitimacy to racism.At the University of California, Berkeley, which has a large Chinese student population, officials apologized after the university health center posted an image that included “xenophobia” among a list of “common reactions” to the coronavirus. It was condemned as giving legitimacy to racism.
Dr. Stacie San Miguel, the director of medical services at the University of California, San Diego’s student health center, said students and others had been flocking to physicians for checkups.Dr. Stacie San Miguel, the director of medical services at the University of California, San Diego’s student health center, said students and others had been flocking to physicians for checkups.
“Especially the people who have been to China and had a runny nose, they’re not sure — is this something or not something? — so there has been some anxiety,” Dr. San Miguel said.“Especially the people who have been to China and had a runny nose, they’re not sure — is this something or not something? — so there has been some anxiety,” Dr. San Miguel said.
In Northern California, multiple cities canceled their Lunar New Year celebrations, including Stockton and Elk Grove.In Northern California, multiple cities canceled their Lunar New Year celebrations, including Stockton and Elk Grove.
Adeel Hassan and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs contributed reporting from New York, and Miriam Jordan from Los Angeles.Adeel Hassan and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs contributed reporting from New York, and Miriam Jordan from Los Angeles.