CDC transfers coronavirus patient to San Mateo County

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is transferring a person who tested positive for COVID-19 to an undisclosed location in San Mateo County, health officials said Friday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is transferring a person who tested positive for COVID-19 to an undisclosed location in San Mateo County, health officials said Friday. Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close CDC transfers coronavirus patient to San Mateo County 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is transferring a person who tested positive for COVID-19 to an undisclosed location in San Mateo County, officials said Friday.

San Mateo County Health issued a statement saying it would not be releasing any more details on the patient at this time.

San Mateo County's Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow said the county's focus is changing from a "containment strategy" to one of "community mitigation," which means taking steps to lessen the impact.

"I share the concerns of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): We all need to be prepared for COVID-19 to spread within the United States," Dr. Morrow said in a statement. "Our lives may be significantly disrupted by the measures needed to respond to a global pandemic."

Dr. Morrow added that the risk to the community remained low.

ALSO: Why San Francisco has declared a coronavirus state of emergency: Your questions answered

The news comes as officials from the county school district and health department plan a meeting to discuss ways to prepare in the event the virus spreads more widely.

Coronavirus has infected more than 83,000 people in 53 countries. More than 2,800 people around the world have died from the virus. The vast majority of cases remain in mainland China but the virus is spreading rapidly in other parts of the world.

The total number of cases in the U.S. is around 60. Earlier cases in the United States include 14 people who traveled back from outbreak areas in China, or their spouses; three people who were evacuated from the central China city of Wuhan; and 42 Americans on the Diamond Princess cruise ship who were evacuated by the federal government to the United States from where the ship was docked in Japan.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a press conference Thursday a total of 33 people in California have tested positive for the virus in California and five of those were moved out of the state. Newsom said that at least 8,400 people are being monitored for potential coronavirus in the state.

This week a case was identified in Solano County resident with no known connection to travel abroad or another known case.

"At this time, the patient’s exposure is unknown,'' the CDC said in a statement regarding the case of unknown origin. "It’s possible this could be an instance of community spread of COVID-19, which would be the first time this has happened in the United States. Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown. It’s also possible, however, that the patient may have been exposed to a returned traveler who was infected.''

The new virus is a member of the coronavirus family that can cause colds or more serious illnesses such as SARS and MERS.

The virus can cause fever, coughing, wheezing and pneumonia. Health officials think it spreads mainly from droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how the flu spreads.

Officials are advising people to take steps to avoid infection with coronavirus or other respiratory infections like a cold or the flu, including washing hands with soap and water, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Eerie photos show empty streets in Italy amid coronavirus fears

Maps: Cases of new coronavirus multiples across the globe

Local emergency declared in San Francisco amid coronavirus concerns

Bay Area company to expand coronavirus drug trials to other companies

CDC warns men with beards amid coronavirus scare

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.