Washington state confirms 2nd US coronavirus death; NY reports first case

Health officials in Washington state said on Sunday a second person infected with the coronavirus had died there, while New York's governor said his state confirmed its first case of the condition.

The Washington death was in the Seattle area and was reported on the website of the Seattle and King County public health department. On Saturday, the same officials reported the first death from coronavirus in america.

NY state confirmed its first positive coronavirus test, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday night. He wrote on Twitter that a woman in her 30s contracted coronavirus during a recent visit to Iran and was in quarantine in her home. He didn't say where in fact the woman lived, however the NY Times, citing unnamed state officials, said the woman was in New York City.

"The individual has respiratory symptoms, but isn't in serious condition and has been around a manipulated situation since arriving in New York," Cuomo said.

At the federal level, President Donald Trump's administration scrambled on Sunday to reassure Americans as the condition spreads and businesses cancel conferences and flights.

Administration officials tried to calm market fears that the coronavirus might lead to a worldwide recession, saying the public had overreacted and that stocks would bounce back as a result of the underlying strength of the united states economy.

Washington state on Sunday confirmed two other cases at a long-term care facility in which a resident and an employee also tested positive forcoronavirus and 50 residents and staff were showing symptoms.

Over 70 cases have been reported in america, with most on the West Coast but new cases in the Chicago area and Rhode Island, apart from New York.

Stock markets plunged the other day, with an index of global stocks setting its major weekly fall because the 2008 financial meltdown, and more than $5 trillion wiped off the worthiness of stocks worldwide.

An integral energy conference in Houston that brings together oil ministers and energy organizations was canceled on Sunday with the organizers of CERAWeek noting that border health checks were becoming more restrictive and companies had begun barring non-essential travel to protect workers.

A world economy conference with Pope Francis because of happen in Italy later this month was also canceled.

Health officials in Washington state said on Sunday another person infected with the coronavirus had died there, while New York's governor said his state confirmed its first case of the illness.

The Washington death was in the Seattle area and was reported on the website of the Seattle and King County public health department. On Saturday, the same officials reported the first death from coronavirus in america.

NY state confirmed its first positive coronavirus test, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday night. He wrote on Twitter that a woman in her 30s contracted coronavirus throughout a recent visit to Iran and was in quarantine in her home. He did not say where in fact the woman lived, but the NY Times, citing unnamed state officials, said the girl was in NEW YORK.

"The patient has respiratory symptoms, but is not in serious condition and has been around a handled situation since arriving in New York," Cuomo said.

Harborview Medical Center's home assessment team, including (L-R) John Lynch, Santiago Neme, and Krista Reitberg hold protective and testing supplies, while getting ready to visit the home of a person potentially subjected to novel coronavirus, at Harborview INFIRMARY in Seattle, Washington, U.S. February 29, 2020. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

At the federal level, President Donald Trump's administration scrambled on Sunday to reassure Americans as the condition spreads and businesses cancel conferences and flights.

Administration officials tried to calm market fears that the coronavirus might lead to a worldwide recession, saying the public had overreacted and that stocks would bounce back due to the underlying strength of the US economy.

Washington state on Sunday confirmed two other cases at a long-term care facility where a resident and a worker also tested positive forcoronavirus and 50 residents and staff were showing symptoms.

Over 70 cases have been reported in america, with most on the West Coast but new cases in the Chicago area and Rhode Island, aside from New York.

Stock markets plunged last week, with an index of global stocks setting its most significant weekly fall because the 2008 financial crisis, and a lot more than $5 trillion wiped off the worthiness of stocks worldwide.

An integral energy conference in Houston that includes oil ministers and energy firms was canceled on Sunday with the organizers of CERAWeek noting that border health checks were becoming more restrictive and companies had begun barring non-essential travel to protect workers.

A global economy conference with Pope Francis because of happen in Italy later this month was also canceled.

U.S. President Donald Trump takes questions ftom the audience throughout a news conference on the coronavirus outbreak with U.S. Secretary of Health insurance and Human Services Alex Azar, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Robert Redfield and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 29, 2020. (REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)

'WE'RE READY'

Trump said on Sunday that travelers to america from countries at high risk of coronavirus will be screened before boarding and on arrival, without specifying which countries.

Delta Air Lines Inc said on Sunday it had been suspending until May flights to Milan in northern Italy where almost all of that country's coronavirus cases have already been reported. Flights will continue steadily to Rome. American Airlines Group Inc announced an identical move late on Saturday.

AMERICA has 75,000 test kits for coronavirus and will expand that number "radically" in coming weeks, US Health insurance and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday.

Vice President Mike Pence said the federal government had contracted 3M Co to create a supplementary 35 million respiratory masks per month. He urged Americans not to choose the masks, which he said were only needed by healthcare workers. Honeywell International Inc may be the other major US mask producer.

He also told Fox News that clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine would begin in six weeks but a vaccine may likely not be available this season.

Democrats, who will challenge Trump for the presidency in the Nov. 3 election, have criticized his administration for downplaying the crisis rather than preparing for the condition to spread in america.

Pence, whom Trump appointed the other day to perform the White House's coronavirus response, said Americans should brace for more cases but that the "the greater part" of those who contracted the condition would recover.

"Apart from in areas where there are individuals that have been infected with the coronavirus, people need to recognize that for the common American, the chance does remain low. We're ready," Pence told NBC's "Meet up with the Press."

AMERICA has imposed limits on travelers who've visited Iran and recommended against travel to hard-hit regions of Italy and South Korea.

Trump said on Saturday that america was also considering shutting the country's southern border with Mexico to control the spread of the virus, adding: "We hope we won't want to do that."

Mexico has reported four coronavirus cases. Its Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that both governments were in "close and effective communication, especially medical authorities."