California officials are trying to locate all individuals who were in contact with a woman thought to be the first known coronavirus case in the U.S. of unknown origin.
The woman is from Solano County, which lies between the San Francisco Bay area and Sacramento. She was admitted at U.C. Davis Medical Center on a ventilator February 19th, but wasn't tested by the CDC for the Coronavirus until four days later on the 23rd, despite requests from hospital staff. The results came back positive on February 26th
The CDC is being criticized for initially declining to test a California patient with the Coronavirus. Health experts say the patient could be the first case of "community spread", meaning they hadn't traveled abroad or been around anyone known to have the deadly virus.
The CDC delayed testing because criteria, like traveling abroad or being around an infected person, wasn't met. While the hospital is asking some staff to stay home, reps say there is minimal potential for exposure since the patient was treated for infection the whole time.
Meanwhile, San Diego County remains under a local public health emergency, declared by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and the county's Health and Human Services agency. The declaration makes it easier to access resources as needed to respond to the virus.
Listen below for Coronvirus COVID19 briefing with California Public Health Director, Dr. Sonia Angell.
For complete details about the virus, including symptoms, detection, and treatment CLICK HERE.
CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION SOURCES
San Diego County Health and Human Services SDCHHS
California Department of Health CDH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC
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