US Reports 15 COVID-19 Deaths and Over 280 Infections... Spread to 26 States

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly in the United States. Patients have been reported not only in the West Coast states of Washington and California, and the East Coast state of New York, but also in inland central regions such as Oklahoma and Kentucky, spreading across the entire country.

Major foreign media including CNN reported on the 6th (local time) that the number of COVID-19 related deaths in the U.S. has risen to 15, with 282 confirmed infections including those deaths. The number of states with confirmed cases has expanded to 26. Since this tally, 21 people aboard the cruise ship 'Grand Princess' tested positive, and the first infection was reported in Kentucky. With infections occurring one after another, the total number of infected individuals, including cruise ship passengers, has surpassed 300.

EvergreenHealth Medical Center in Kirkland, Washington, announced that the 12th COVID-19 patient being treated at the hospital died that day. Previously, in Washington state, a man in his 50s infected with the virus died at Harborview Medical Center, and a woman in her 80s also died at home. With the COVID-19 death toll in Washington state rising to 14, the total number of deaths in the U.S., including one in California, reached 15.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency that day, announcing that a resident of Lexington became the state's first COVID-19 patient. Oklahoma also reported its first infection. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced that a man in his 50s living in Tulsa County, who had traveled to Italy, was diagnosed with COVID-19.

In Colorado, three additional patients were confirmed, bringing the total number of cases in the state to eight. All of these patients tested positive after traveling abroad to countries such as Italy and the Philippines.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Nebraska also reported its first COVID-19 patient that day, a woman in her 30s who returned from the United Kingdom at the end of last month. Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb declared a public health emergency after the state's first presumptive positive case was identified that day.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced the state's first two confirmed COVID-19 cases. He posted on Twitter, "I want to assure the people of Pennsylvania that we are prepared."

In South Carolina, two patients were confirmed as the first COVID-19 cases: an elderly woman and a patient who had traveled to France and Italy.

Additionally, in Connecticut, a hospital staff member tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the state's first confirmed case. This patient was known to live in New York and had worked at Danbury and Norwalk hospitals in Connecticut.

Santa Clara County in California reported four new cases, increasing the total to 24. In New York, there were 22 cases the previous day, but an additional 22 cases were confirmed within a day, bringing the total to 44. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo stated that most of the patients were linked to a 50-year-old male lawyer, the state's second confirmed COVID-19 patient.

The simultaneous emergence of first COVID-19 cases in multiple states is analyzed to be influenced by the federal government's recent expansion of COVID-19 testing, increased distribution of test kits, and significant relaxation of testing criteria, which has led to an increase in the number of tests conducted.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.