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Coronavirus Updates: March 8, 2020

CLEVELAND (WJW) — 10:00 PM UPDATE: 34 states and the nation’s capital have confirmed cases of novel coronavirus, but the crisis continues to grow aboard cruise ships at sea.

There are at least 21 people with coronavirus aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship, which is expected to dock sometime Monday in Oakland, California, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a news conference Sunday.

The Grand Princess has been in limbo since Wednesday, when officials learned a California man who traveled on the same ship last month later died of coronavirus. On Sunday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said four people from that February Grand Princess voyage have been diagnosed with coronavirus. It was not immediately clear whether those four include the California man who died.

Among the infected on the ship are 19 crew members and two passengers, though the number of onboard infections could rise, as not all of the approximately 3,500 people on board — including passengers and crew — have been tested.

About 1,000 California residents from the ship will go into mandatory quarantine at Travis Air Force Base and Miramar Naval Air Station, the US Department of Health and Human Services said Sunday.

Passengers will be screened by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC at the port, according to a statement from Travis Air Force Base.

“Only asymptomatic passengers will be transferred” to military bases for more screening and a 14-day quarantine, the statement said.

Residents of other states will complete their mandatory quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in Texas or Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia. Throughout the quarantine, passengers will be monitored for symptoms of coronavirus, DHHS said.

Some 54 countries are represented among the passengers and crew, Newsom told reporters, and charter flights will be provided for the largest group of foreign passengers. The Canadian government said it plans to repatriate its citizens aboard the ship.

The 1,113 crew members will be quarantined on the ship, which will leave the port after passengers disembark, the governor said.

Officials anticipate the entire process will take between two and three days.

“That’s why we ask just patience as we prepare the site and make sure the screening is appropriate and make sure we have all the logistics at hand so that we’re doing this in an appropriate way,” Newsom said.

5:00 PM UPDATE: There are now 512 cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States, according to health officials.

CNN reported that there are 442 cases in 33 states and in the District of Columbia.

There are currently no confirmed cases in Ohio. Testing is currently underway.

Worldwide, the number of deaths has topped 3,500, with more than 105,000 people infected.

2:30 PM UPDATE: The Ohio Department of Health says there are still no coronavirus cases in Ohio.

As of Sunday afternoon, four people are under investigation and waiting for results.

To date, ODH has tested 10 people for the virus. All results have been negative.

The cumulative number of travelers referred to ODH for monitoring is currently 255. This includes travelers who have completed their self-monitoring period. These individuals are not exhibiting symptoms of illness.

8:30 AM UPDATE: There were at least 449 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States and 19 deaths across 32 states and the District of Columbia as of Sunday morning.

This data includes 379 people who were diagnosed within the US public health system, 46 people from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, 21 from the Grand Princess cruise ship and three individuals from China.

There are no confirmed cases in the state of Ohio. However, the state has 5 Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) awaiting test results. A spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) said they are all separate cases.

While there are still no confirmed cases in the state, ODH Director Dr. Amy Acton said Saturday that it is just a matter of time until Ohio sees one.

The state announced a “three-pronged” plan going forward:

First, they will prioritize the elderly, people who have preexisting health conditions, those who are immunocompromised and healthcare professionals on the “front line.”

Second, the general public should be connecting with their primary care physician if they are showing symptoms. Tests will only be conducted with the primary care physician’s consent.

Third, ‘community spread’ will be monitored. All test results will be sent directly to ODH.

On Saturday, health officials in Ohio also announced that they now have the capability to test for the new strain of coronavirus.

Acton, along with Governor Mike DeWine, said there are a limited number of people that can be tested by the state at this time (about 300-400). She said Ohio is in line to receive more kits when available. Along with ODH, two private labs, LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, are also capable of testing. Some hospitals will begin to start testing within approximately two weeks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports, as of Sunday morning, there are more than 105,000 cases of coronavirus globally, with more than 3,500 deaths worldwide.

Map based on state departments of health as of March 8. Coronavirus Cases by StateMap based on state departments of health as of March 8.

While the coronavirus risk to Ohioans currently remains low, ODH says it is important to follow the below-mentioned precautions to prevent the spread of infectious disease:

Wash your hands often with soap and water.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Stay home when you are sick.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

You can continue to educate yourself on the virus through reputable sources, such as the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the Ohio Department of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

FOX 8 will also have all the latest coronavirus information on-air, online and on our FOX 8 News app.

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