Washington DC Also Breached... US COVID-19 Cases Surpass 440

First Suspected Case of Locally Transmitted Infection in US Capital

Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington D.C., announced on the 7th (local time) that the first suspected positive case of COVID-19 has occurred within the city's jurisdiction. (Washington AP=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jihee Kim] The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is rapidly spreading in the United States as well. Confirmed cases have been reported in 31 states, including California and the capital Washington D.C., where suspected positive cases have been identified for the first time. The death toll has risen to 19, with the total number of infections surpassing 440.

According to local media such as The Washington Post (WP) on the 7th (local time), two additional deaths in western Washington state have increased the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. to 19. With a significant increase in cases in eastern New York state and western Washington state, the total number of infections reached 442. Among the infected, 372 were confirmed positive after COVID-19 testing on the U.S. mainland, while the remaining 70 include passengers and crew of the U.S. cruise ship Grand Princess, passengers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship involved in the cluster infection in Japan, and those who traveled to Wuhan, China.

Following the West, concerns about the spread of COVID-19 are growing in the East as well. A suspected positive case has been identified for the first time in the capital, Washington D.C.

Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington D.C., announced via her Twitter on the same day that the first suspected positive case had been identified. A suspected positive case refers to a person who tested positive in state, county, or city-level testing but has not yet been confirmed by the CDC.

In neighboring Virginia, a COVID-19 infection has also been reported. A U.S. Marine stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, tested positive for COVID-19.

New York state has declared a state of emergency as confirmed cases increased to 89. Governor Andrew Cuomo stated, "We are declaring a 'state of emergency' to grant certain authorities related to COVID-19 response," adding, "We will reinforce more personnel to support health authorities and purchase equipment."

Previously, Los Angeles (LA) County and Austin, Texas, declared a state of emergency and a local disaster situation, respectively. With this, the number of states declaring a state of emergency or disaster situation has expanded to nine, including California, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Washington, and Pennsylvania.

The situation in Washington state is particularly severe. Washington has the highest number of COVID-19 patients in the U.S., with 16 deaths and 103 confirmed cases.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is expected to continue rising. Attention is focused on the results of comprehensive testing of 3,533 passengers and crew aboard the U.S. cruise ship Grand Princess.