GA Coronavirus: 2 Cases Confirmed In Fulton County

ATLANTA, GA — Two cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed in Georgia in Fulton County. Gov. Brian Kemp held a late night news conference Monday alongside Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey and state officials.

One of the individuals had recently returned from Milan, Italy and experienced symptoms a few days later. Both of the affected patients are in the same home under self-quarantine, Toomey said.

It’s safer for the public to have them isolated in their home instead of being hospitalized, she said, adding that it’s recommended by the CDC.

“I want to reassure you that they’re at home, in home isolation with other household members, with minimal symptoms," Toomey said.

Doctors are communicating with them daily, monitoring their health and before they’re released to the public more tests will have to be taken, Toomey said.

Six people have died from the coronavirus in Washington state. Officials said four deaths and eight COVID-19 infections were among patients who were residents at a senior housing facility.

EvergreenHealth announced three patient deaths Monday, and King County Public Health said four additional illnesses have been confirmed in the county since Sunday, bringing the total number of infections to 18 in Washington state.

Kemp said he spoke with Vice President Mike Pence before the news conference regarding the new information.

"He assured me they are aware and him and the president are looking into it," Kemp said. "We've been looking far out, preparing for the worst. This isn't something we just started thinking about."

He announced Friday that he had formed a new coronavirus task force for Georgia. It will assess the state's preparations and procedures for preventing, identifying, and if needed, addressing cases of COVID-19, which originated in Wuhan, China. It's caused by a member of the coronavirus that's a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses.

Toomey says the state’s lab now has what it needs to begin testing on its own later this week, which would cut the testing time for new coronavirus from days to just hours, WSB reported. In the past week, only the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta has been able to administer the test.

Globally, more than 90,000 people have been infected and over 3,200 people have died from the new coronavirus, Johns Hopkins reported Monday night. Of that total, about 80,000 cases are in China, while the entire United States has 86 confirmed cases to date.

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COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, including when someone coughs or sneezes. These droplets may land on objects and surfaces. Other people may contract the virus by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days following exposure. Most people recover from the COVID-19 without needing special treatment. The elderly and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness, the health department said.

Symptoms are fever, cough, difficulty breathing and pneumonia, resulting in anything from mild respiratory issues to death.

Those who are at risk have recently traveled to China; have close, personal contact with recent travelers to China; have close, personal contact with one who has been diagnosed with the new coronavirus; or care for those who have the new coronavirus, according to health officials.

Public Health Guidance On Virus Prevention:

• Do not go to an emergency room unless absolutely essential. Those with symptoms including a cough, fever, or other respiratory issues are advised to contact their regular doctor first.
• If you are sick, stay home.
• Commit to excellent personal hygiene, including regular handwashing and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Monitor the latest information on COVID-19 in Georgia and across the United States:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Georgia Department of Public Health

Coronavirus expected to spread
President Donald Trump spoke about the coronavirus outbreak Saturday, urging Americans not to panic, saying, "If you are healthy, you will probably go through a process and you'll be fine," Politico reported.

Also Saturday, the White House imposed new travel restrictions, elevating travel warnings to regions of Italy and South Korea and banning travel to Iran.

The virus has been spreading so quickly overseas that infectious disease experts and scientists warn there may be no way to contain it.

Last week, a top official at the CDC said during a news conference it's only a matter of time before the new coronavirus spreads to communities across the United States. Communities, schools and businesses should begin preparing now for "the expectation that this could be bad," said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease.

What is the new coronavirus?

The symptoms of the new coronavirus are similar to seasonal influenza, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Both are infectious respiratory illnesses, but they're caused by different viruses.

Both cause fever, cough, body aches and fatigue, and both can result in pneumonia. Both illnesses can sometimes cause vomiting and diarrhea and can be spread from person to person by sneezing, coughing or talking.

Common good-health practices such as frequent hand-washing, covering coughs and staying home from work or school if sick, can help control both illnesses.

Neither respond to antibiotic treatment, but both may be treated by addressing symptoms, such as reducing fever.

There is no vaccine to protect against the new coronavirus as there is against influenza. Scientists around the world are racing to find a vaccine for the new coronavirus, although none currently exists.

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