A “boom” in confirmed cases of coronavirus that has killed more than 3,000 people worldwide – including two in the United States – could already cross America despite increased efforts to contain the epidemic, experts said.
The spread of the virus through “community transmissions” is an indication that we might indeed be looking at the tip of the iceberg, “said Ogbonnaya Omenka, assistant professor and specialist in public health at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Butler University in the United States today, Sunday.
Although fewer than 90 cases in the United States have been confirmed to date, including 10 in King County near Seattle, a Washington state researcher estimates that “a few hundred” people in the state could actually be infected.
The county reported its second death from the virus Sunday evening, a man in his forties “with underlying health problems,” according to a press release. He passed away on Saturday.
“There are huge implications here,” Trevor Bedford, a researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, posted on Twitter. “I believe we are facing an already large epidemic in Washington State that has gone undetected so far.”
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Bedford studied two confirmed cases weeks apart and determined that they were linked by community transmission – from a source not directly related to another known case. Bedford tweeted his belief that the virus has been going undetected, at least in Washington State, for six weeks.
Omenka says this does not bode well for efforts to contain the virus nationwide. One of the main challenges in combating community transmission is contact tracing, which can be difficult due to constant human movement and interaction, said Omenka.
The increased trips and trips of students and families for the spring break could also spread the contagion, he said.
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“Under the current circumstances, a boom in cases is to be expected,” said Omenka. “Especially considering the possibility of asymptomatic and mild spread of the disease.”
The way to stop the spread: human behavior. It is crucial that people follow the steps recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, such as frequent hand washing and self-quarantine when sick, said Omenka.
The first death reported in the United States was a man in his 50s who had significant underlying health conditions, health officials in Seattle said. Omenka said that death confirms the current tendency of the disease to be the most serious among the most vulnerable members of the population.
The disease started to spread across China weeks before reaching the United States, which has given federal health officials time to prepare, said Omenka.
“Nevertheless, the possibility of wider dissemination of COVID-19 in the United States is very likely now, based on recent developments,” he said.
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Rhode Island, New York, Florida, reports first cases of coronavirus
Three states announced their first contacts with a coronavirus on Sunday, with Florida governor Ron DeSantis declaring a public health emergency after two “suspected positive” cases were reported in the Sunshine State.
The Rhode Island Department of Health has announced the state’s first “presumed positive” cases, a man in his forties and a teenage girl who traveled to Italy in mid-February, the department said.
A few hours later, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that an Empire State woman in her late 30s had contracted the virus while traveling to Iran.
“There is no reason to be surprised – it was planned,” Cuomo said in a statement. “As I said from the start, it was a question of time, not whether there would be a positive case of new coronavirus in New York.”
The message was similar to Rhode Island: “We do not see widespread community transmission in Rhode Island, and the overall level of risk for Rhode Islanders is still low,” said the Department of Health.
Florida cases have been reported from Manatee and Hillsborough counties. In an executive order, DeSantis said it was “necessary and appropriate to take steps to ensure that CO-VID 19 remains controlled and that residents and visitors to Florida remain safe”.
The world responds to an epidemic of coronavirus
Around the world, the iconic Louvre in France closed its doors on Sunday due to coronavirus problems, and the Dominican Republic and the Czech Republic reported their first infections in an epidemic that has now spread to more than 60 countries.
Italian authorities have announced that the number of people infected has doubled to 1,694 in just 24 hours, and five deaths have brought the death toll to 34. Australia and Thailand have reported their first deaths, the Associated Press said. The global death toll stood at 3,044 on Sunday evening, including more than 2,800 in mainland China. Over 89,000 infections have been reported worldwide, the vast majority of them in China.
American Airlines waives modification fees
As travelers are increasingly reluctant to contract the virus or to stop traveling, American Airlines is seeking to allay some of their concerns.
American announced Sunday afternoon that it would waive the change fee for any airline ticket purchased until March 16, provided the changes were made at least 14 days before the scheduled travel date.
The Catholic Church changes its practices
The virus also has an impact on some long-standing practices of Catholic masses.
The Archbishop of Paris told the priests to put the bread of communion in the hands of the faithful, not in their mouths. In South Carolina, the diocese of Charleston asked its parishioners not to drink from the cup of communion or to shake hands during the sign of peace.
Energy conference in Houston abandoned
The organizers of the CERAweek conference, which was to attract thousands of executives and energy managers from 80 countries to Houston, were canceled due to coronavirus problems.
The conference was scheduled for March 9-13. Organizer IHS Markit said he was canceling “with deep disappointment”.
“A growing number of companies are putting in place travel bans and restrictions, border health checks are becoming more restrictive,” IHS said in a statement. “There is a growing concern about large conferences with people from different parts of the world.”
Contributors: Jorge L. Ortiz and Steve Kiggins, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
