© File Image Coronavirus

The Legislature's appropriations committee has given the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention approval to purchase new equipment that can test for the coronavirus.

The Maine CDC said the money will be used to replace aging equipment.

In addition to the coronavirus, the new equipment can also test for influenza A and B, as well as other viruses.

The Maine CDC will use existing, unspent grant funds to buy the equipment.

There have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Maine.

A Mainer who was tested for coronavirus earlier this month came back negative for the virus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested the individual.

The latest tally shows 53 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States as well as several other Americans with the virus in Japan.

READ THE FULL STORY:Lawmakers approve Maine CDC purchase of equpiment to test for coronavirus

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