Hundreds Remain Under Coronavirus Monitoring In Washington

SEATTLE, WA — Almost 750 people are under public health supervision in Washington state for potential exposure to the coronavirus from China, according to an update posted Tuesday. The state Department of Health said that number includes all people identified as having close contacts with confirmed cases and anyone who has returned from China in the last two weeks.

Only 26 people in Washington have been formally tested for the virus, which is now officially called "COVID-19." Just one person has tested positive: a Snohomish County man who was diagnosed last month with the first case of the virus in the U.S.

Under new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seattle is among five U.S. cities that will begin testing all patients with "flu-like symptoms" for potential infection.

According to the CDC, 15 people have tested positive for COVID-19 nationwide, out of 467 people tested since the outbreak began. The New York Times reports recent numbers from China — where the illness originated — indicate the virus's spread has started to slow, but more than 74,000 infections and 2,000 deaths have been confirmed in the country.

In Washington state, public health officials consider the risk to the public low and have said there is no evidence the virus is spreading locally. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport remains one of just 11 U.S. airports where all flights from China are funneled for further screening by the CDC.

New federal rules require all travelers returning from China to undergo up to two weeks of monitoring to ensure they do not have an infection. While most will be quarantined at their homes, state health officials identified two potential quarantine facilities, in North Bend and Shoreline, to house returning passengers, should the need arise.

Find daily updates on the local response to COVID-19 on the Washington Department of Health website.