First Coronavirus Death In Alameda County Reported Monday

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA —The Alameda County Public Health Department reported the county's first coronavirus-related death on Monday, as the total number of cases swelled to 112.

In a press release, the county said, "The person was elderly with underlying conditions that placed them at greater risk of serious illness and was hospitalized. With no history of travel nor known contact with a confirmedCOVID-19 case, their infection is indicative of community-acquired transmission." No other information about the patient will be announced.

As coronavirus testing, also known as COVID-19, has become more widely available, the number of cases has grown dramatically. A week ago today, the county had only 18 confirmed cases.

On Sunday President Donald J. Trump said he would approve Gov. Gavin Newsom's request to declare a major disaster in California, freeing up federal resources to fight the state's growing coronavirus outbreak.

Trump also said he would send the USNS Mercy, a massive Navy hospital ship, to Los Angeles to help treat the area's surge of coronavirus patients. Previously, officials in Seattle had expected the ship would head there.

Newsom previously declared a state of emergency to provide additional resources, prevent price gouging and help the state better prepare for the virus's spread.

— Patch editors Bea Karnes and Courtney Teague contributed to this story

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