Colorado sees first confirmed cases of new coronavirus
ASSOCIATED PRESS
This undated photo provided by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows CDC’s laboratory test kit for the new coronavirus.
DENVER >> Gov. Jared Polis said today that two people have tested positive for coronovirus in Colorado, marking the state’s first cases in the global outbreak.
The governor announced both cases during a news conference. The first is a man in his 30s who was visiting from out of state when checked into a hospital in Frisco, where many of Colorado’s ski resorts are located, because of a possible respiratory illness.
The man had traveled to Italy the month before, but did not show any symptoms when he flew to Colorado on Feb. 29, Polis said. The man’s traveling companion also tested positive for the virus in another state.
The man is recovering in isolation in the Denver metro area, and the state health department is working with local public health agencies to identify anyone who could have been exposed to the man to monitor them for signs and symptoms.
“Like other states, we expected to begin seeing cases in Colorado and that is why we have been preparing for the past couple of months, in conjunction with local public health agencies and healthcare partners,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, the state health department’s executive director.
The test results will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. The man will remain isolated until he is cleared by public health officials.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
The outbreak that began in China has also hit hard in Italy, where the man reportedly traveled before going to Colorado. There have been 148 deaths in Italy caused by the virus as of today.
The number of U.S. cases has grown rapidly as more labs started testing and guidelines for eligibility were expanded. There are now more than 200 cases across 17 states, with 12 U.S. deaths.
Colorado was relying on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct tests, but the state health department says it can now test up to 160 samples a day at its laboratory with results expected within 24 hours.
The state is also testing specimens from patients who have symptoms and have either been in contact with someone else confirmed to have the virus or have traveled to parts of the world where infection rates are high.
