There are some very real fears that the novel strain of coronavirus known as COVID-19 could develop into a global pandemic, and Americans are growing concerned.
Sure, we may have some of the most advanced and talented medical resources on the entire planet, but that doesn’t mean much when we’re dealing with an outbreak that has been festering outside of our walls for some time.
Plus, with the virus displaying a fourteen day incubation period before the onset of symptoms, quarantining COVID-19 has been nearly impossible.
US citizens have taken solace in the fact that, thus far, there have only been a few cases of this novel coronavirus identified within the continental United States.
Authorities in California are afraid that this number is about to skyrocket, however.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday that 33 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and the state is currently monitoring at least 8,400 others —a day after U.S. health officials confirmed the first possible community transmission of the coronavirus in a Solano County resident.
“This is a fluid situation right now and I want to emphaize the risk to the American public remains low,” said Dr. Sonia Y. Angell, California Department of Public Health Director and State Health Officer during a press conference. “There have been a limited number of confirmed cases to date.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t know exactly how the new California patient, who’s receiving medical care in Sacramento County, contracted the virus. The patient didn’t have a relevant travel history or exposure to another patient with the virus, the CDC said Wednesday.
California health officials said the patient wasn’t under quarantine before her diagnosis and was out and about in her community.
Globally, over 2,800 people have died from COVID-19 after succumbing to pneumonia-like symptoms.
Authorities believe that the virus first entered the human species in Wuhan, China, after being transferred to mankind from bats at a wildlife market.
