NEW: Missouri reports its first presumptive case of coronavirus
A St. Louis-area woman, who recently returned from a trip in Italy, is reportedly the first person to be diagnosed with coronavirus in Missouri.
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced the case late Saturday. The 22-year-old woman is a college student who abroad in Italy, according to St. Louis Public Radio. She was returning home from Italy when she showed symptoms.
Gov. Mike Parson and other officials announced late Saturday that the woman is in isolation at home with members of her family, who are also being isolated to the home.
The woman’s parents are not showing symptoms, according to Page.
Mercy Hospital St. Louis discharged the patient Saturday, since she was not feeling ill enough to be hospitalized. The self-quarantine will last 14 days after the patient no longer has symptoms, according to the public radio station.
Page said the woman will not be supervised. “What we found is that everyone is very cooperative. They understand the risk that they put others to,” he said.
Page urged people to “keep things in perspective,” adding that it is not a time to panic.
The Missouri announcement came the same day that neighboring Kansas also announced its first case of the virus.
The number of U.S. coronavirus cases swelled to more than 400 over the weekend, with cases in about half of the states. Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska and Pennsylvania also recently reported their first cases. The total U.S. death toll has reached 19.
About the Author
Stephanie has been telling stories her whole life. Her interest in the written word started with short stories and journal entries about run-ins with classroom bullies as a child and matured to writing for her high school newspaper over the years. She has written and edited for The Tennessean, Augusta Chronicle and American City & County.
