KIRKLAND, Wash. (Reuters) – 6 individuals in the Seattle location have actually passed away of illness triggered by the brand-new coronavirus, health authorities said on Monday, as authorities across the United States scrambled to prepare for more infections with a focus on increasing testing capacity.
Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer for the Seattle and King County Public Health agency, announced the increase in deaths from the previous 2 in Washington state.
Eight of the 14 overall cases in his jurisdiction are connected to an outbreak at a nursing center in the Seattle residential area of Kirkland, including four deaths, Duchin said at a press conference.
A minimum of four of the six individuals who passed away were either senior or had hidden health conditions or both, Duchin stated.
Nonetheless, Vice President Mike Pence, speaking at a White Home briefing, stated the threat to Americans from coronavirus stayed low.
Previously in the day, 2 senior officials said the Trump administration was weighing whether to have the president issue an emergency statement to assist cover state and regional expenses of responding to the coronavirus.
More tightening up of travel constraints on nations hard-hit by the virus also were under consideration, President Donald Trump stated during a meeting with pharmaceutical company executives.
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn said he anticipates that by the end of this week close to 1 million coronavirus tests will be finished.
The overall variety of cases detected by the public health system in Washington state now stands at 18, the most of any state. In addition to the 14 King County cases, 4 residents of close-by Snohomish County have evaluated favorable for the virus, authorities stated.
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