A Washington state man who was the nation's first confirmed case of the new coronavirus has made a full recovery and is no longer quarantined, health officials announced.

Almost 800 people remain on the state's watch list as health officials around the world battle to contain the virus, COVID-19, which has infected more than 76,000 people worldwide and caused 2,247 deaths, mostly in mainland China. In the USA, 15 cases have been confirmed, and one American has died in China.

The confirmed case in Washington state was a 35-year-old from Snohomish County, near Seattle. He was released from a hospital more than two weeks ago but remained isolated at home until Wednesday, the Snohomish Health District said in a statement.

“He is now considered fully recovered and free to go about his regular activities,” Snohomish officials said in a statement.

The state health department said 26 people have been tested for the new virus. One test result is pending, and the rest came back negative, the department said.

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The 779 people under public health supervision across the state include close contacts of the confirmed case as well as people who returned from China in the past 14 days and are included in federal quarantine guidance, state officials said.

The Snohomish County man went to an urgent care clinic Jan. 19 with a cough and fever. He told the staff he had seen a health alert about the outbreak in China – and he had returned four days earlier from a trip to visit family in Wuhan.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was called in, and his diagnosis was confirmed the next day. He was admitted to an isolation unit at Providence Regional Medical Center for clinical observation and developed pneumonia.

His health improved, and he was released from the hospital and into home isolation more than two weeks ago.

“We cannot thank him enough for his patience and cooperation throughout the entire process," the Snohomish County statement said.

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