The first case of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, has been confirmed in North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper confirmed in a news release Tuesday.
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After North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health conducted a test on the individual, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the positive result Tuesday.
The patient is a Wake County resident who traveled to the state of Washington and was exposed while at a long-term care facility, where there was a known COVID-19 outbreak, according to the news release.
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“I know that people are worried about this virus, and I want to assure North Carolinians our state is prepared,” Cooper said. “Our task force and state agencies are working closely with local health departments, health care providers and others to quickly identify and respond to cases that might occur.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control's website showed 60 cases in 12 U.S. states as of Tuesday, and a total of six deaths. However, nine deaths have been confirmed in Washington by several health professionals and media outlets, according to a report by the Raleigh News & Observer.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said in a media briefing Tuesday that there are now 90,893 reported cases of COVID-19 globally, and 3,110 deaths, according to a transcript of his remarks obtained by the News & Observer.
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The North Carolina coronavirus patient is being isolated at home for now and is doing well, Cooper said. The case appears to be isolated, he said.
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