The United States has reported over 80 infections from the coronavirus, and after four people died in Seattle this weekend, the death toll is up to 6 in the U.S.
The coronavirus has continued to spread all over the world, and the death toll has increased rapidly over the past two months after China’s quarantine efforts failed and were unable to contain the virus in China.
President Trump said in a meeting Monday morning with Columbian President Ivan Duque Marquez that he would be asking drug companies to speed up research into a coronavirus vaccine. Vice President Pence and his coronavirus task force will also be in attendance. The meeting was originally set to be about lowering the cost of drug prescriptions, but President Trump said that he would focus the meeting on the virus.
“We’re talking about a vaccine, maybe even a cure,” Trump said. “It’s possible. We’ll see about that. We’ve asked them to accelerate whatever they’re doing in terms of a vaccine.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) issued a warning stating that they expect the coronavirus to continue to spread across the U.S. Federal health authorities said they believe the spread of the virus will be widespread, but that they are unsure about the severity that the health threat could become.
CDC Director Nancy Messonnier said that authorities are preparing for a potential pandemic.
"We expect we will see community spread in this country," said Messonnier. "It's not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness."
President Trump and the CDC have been criticized for lack of preparedness after U.S. citizens were flown home from a cruise ship that went to China. The woman was released from quarantine after her medical records were misread, and she was found shopping in a local mall.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that the federal government's response to the coronavirus is unacceptable after a Texas woman was released from quarantine in San Antonio before health officials learned she had tested positive for the virus.
"It appears to be a case of negligence with regard to how this person, who had the coronavirus, could leave Texas Center for Infectious Disease (TCID) and go back into the general population,” Abbott said. “I think they understand the magnitude of the error they made."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the chamber would vote on a response package to the coronavirus sometime in the coming week. Congress is taking steps to ensure the government has access to the resources needed to fight this deadly virus and keep Americans safe.
Pelosi said, “The American people expect a well-coordinated, fully funded response that appropriately addresses this public health crisis.”
The coronavirus is extremely contagious, and it can be spread by inhaling infected air, personal contact or not washing your hands. Washing your hands is essential right now with the coronavirus rapidly spreading, so always wash your hands thoroughly.
The symptoms of the coronavirus can vary depending on a person’s immune system, so children and senior citizens are the most likely to contract the virus. The symptoms to look out for are headaches, fevers, coughing and shortness of breath. However, someone can be infected by the coronavirus for two to 14 days before any symptoms become present.
“Now that we are able to expedite test results here at the Public Health Lab in Shoreline, we’re getting results on suspected local cases a lot faster.” Washington State Health Officer Dr. Kathy Lofy said. “Given the extent of global spread, we expect to identify more individuals with the coronavirus in Washington."
