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Official: White House didn’t want to tell seniors not to fly By MIKE STOBBEMarch 7, 2020 NEW YORK (AP) — The White House overruled health officials who wanted to recommend that elderly and physically fragile Americans be advised not to fly on commercial airlines because of the new coronavirus, a federal official told The Associated Press. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention submitted the plan as a way of trying to control the virus, but White House officials ordered the air travel recommendation be removed, said the official who had direct knowledge of the plan. Trump administration officials have since suggested certain people should consider not traveling, but have stopped short of the stronger guidance sought by the CDC. The person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity did not have authorization to talk about the matter. The person did not have direct knowledge about why the decision to kill the language was made or who made the call. MORE COVERAGE – Anxiety grips companies across the world as virus spreads – Italy quarantines north in drastic bid to slow virus spread – Before Italy's virus lockdown, a dash to the last train out – Infected cruise ship unloads passengers in California Administration officials disputed the person’s account. In a tweet, the press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence, Katie Miller, said that “it was never a recommendation to the Task Force” and called the AP story “complete fiction.” On Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci — the head of infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force — said “no one overruled anybody.” On Friday, the CDC quietly updated its website to tell older adults and people with severe medical conditions such as heart, lung or kidney disease to “stay home as much as possible” and avoid crowds. It urges those people to “take actions to reduce your risk of exposure,” but it doesn’t specifically address flying. Full Coverage: Virus Outbreak Pence, speaking Saturday after meeting with cruise ship industry leaders in Florida, targeted his travel advice to a narrower group: older people with serious health problems. “If you’re a senior citizen with a serious underlying health condition, this would be a good time to practice common sense and to avoid activities including traveling on a cruise line,” Pence said, adding they were looking to cruise line officials for action, guidance and flexibility with those passengers. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar suggested older Americans and those with health problems should avoid crowds “especially in poorly ventilated spaces.” Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” Fauci said people with underlying conditions — particularly those who are elderly — should take steps to distance themselves from the risk of infection, including avoiding crowds and long plane trips “and above all don’t get on a cruise ship,” he said. “No one has told us not to say that,” he added. For most people, the flu-like viral illness causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But — like the flu — it can cause pneumonia and be much more lethal to people made frail by old age and by conditions that make it harder for their bodies to fight infections. Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of tropical medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, last week warned U.S. lawmakers against minimizing the viruses risk for vulnerable people. During a Congressional hearing, he said the coronavirus “is like the angel of death for older individuals.” Some experts said they’ve been hoping for clearer and louder guidance from the government, to prod vulnerable people to take every possible step to avoid settings where they might more easily become infected. “The clear message to people who fit into those categories is; ‘You ought to become a semi-hermit. You’ve got to really get serious in your personal life about social distancing, and in particular avoiding crowds of any kind,’” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University expert on infectious diseases. That can include not only avoiding essential commercial travel but also large church services and crowded restaurants, he added. Dr. Tom Frieden, a former CDC director, said whether to recommend the frail and elderly avoid air travel is “a difficult question,” but clearly this is a time when such conversations should be taking place. “At this point the risk in the U.S. remains low, but we are seeing it spread rapidly. We are going from the calm before the storm to the beginning of the storm,” said Frieden, who now heads Resolve to Save Lives, an organization promoting global public health. The new virus is a member of the coronavirus family that can cause colds or more serious illnesses such as SARS and MERS. Health officials think it spreads mainly from droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how the flu spreads. The virus first emerged late last year in mainland China, but this year has increasingly been spreading around the world. More than 100,000 illnesses have been reported globally, in more than 90 countries and territories. the count includes more than 3,500 deaths. For weeks, cases in the U.S. remained very low, but the count has been accelerating in the last several days. President Donald Trump visited the CDC in Atlanta on Friday, where he defended his administration’s handling of the outbreak and tried to reassure Americans that the government had the virus under control. But Trump also detoured from that message, calling Washington state’s governor a “snake” and saying he’d prefer that people exposed to the virus on a cruise ship be left aboard so they wouldn’t be added to the nation’s tally. ___ Associated Press writers Lynn Berry in Washington and Kelli Kennedy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report. https://apnews.com/921ad7f1f08d7634bf681ba785faf269

COVID-19 Presumptively Confirmed in Three Iowa Residents (3/8/20) Author: Polly Carver-Kimm/Sunday, March 8, 2020/Categories: IDPH News Testing at Iowa’s State Hygienic Laboratory has indicated three presumptive positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iowa residents. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), the individuals are from Johnson County: one middle-age (41-60 years) adult and two older adults (61-80). Two of the individuals had underlying health conditions. One did not. None required hospitalization and all are recovering. “Iowa has been proactively preparing for the likelihood of a positive test in Iowa with strategic planning and safety measures. While these are the first cases, it may not be the last and it’s why Iowans must continue to practice safe habits like hand washing and staying home from work when sick,” said Gov. Reynolds. “My team is engaged through the President’s Coronavirus Task Force, led by Vice President Mike Pence, as well as the nation’s governors to work collaboratively to limit the spread of COVID-19.” “All three individuals were part of a cruise in Egypt,” said IDPH Medical Director and State Epidemiologist, Dr. Caitlin Pedati. “IDPH is working with local public health to assess potential exposures to others. These cases are an important reminder that all Iowans need to help prevent the spread of illness by washing hands frequently, staying home when ill, and covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue.” COVID-19 was first linked to an outbreak in Wuhan, China, but cases have subsequently been identified in several countries, including the U.S. These are the first cases identified in Iowa. Confirmatory testing is pending at CDC. No additional or special precautions are recommended for Iowans beyond the simple daily precautions to combat the flu including washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when ill. It is currently flu and respiratory disease season, and IDPH recommends getting the flu vaccine. Influenza activity is widespread in Iowa and as long as flu viruses are circulating, it’s not too late to receive the vaccine. For more information about novel coronavirus, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus. In addition, a public hotline has been established for Iowans with questions about COVID-19. The line is available 24/7 by calling 2-1-1.

the individuals are from Johnson County: one middle-age (41-60 years) adult and two older adults (61-80). Two of the individuals had underlying health conditions. One did not. https://idph.iowa.gov/News/ArtMID/646/ArticleID/158296/COVID-19-Presumptively-Confirmed-in-Three-Iowa-Residents-3820

Coronavirus in Ohio: 3 test positive for COVID-19 NEWS Anyone with questions on coronavirus is urged to call the ODH Coronavirus Hotline at 1-833-4ASKODH (427-5634). by: NBC4 Staff Posted: Mar 9, 2020 / 03:17 PM EDT / Updated: Mar 9, 2020 / 04:45 PM EDT COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Governor Mike DeWine announced Monday that there are three positive cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in Ohio. 19 people are talking about this DeWine said it is important to take aggressive action to protect Ohioans, and is declaring a state of emergency in Ohio. All three cases are from Cuyahoga County. All three are in their 50s. DeWine said two were recently on a cruise along the Nile. The third was at an AIPAC conference in Washington DC. Six people who had close contact with the patients are now on home quarantine, WJW reported. Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton says the health department is now evaluating where those people were, where they have traveled and who they have come in contact with. Dr. Acton describes the situation as a pandemic and says the actions taken in the next few days will make everyday life uncomfortable and says more guidance is coming. “We will take very aggressive actions,” said Dr. Acton. Five suspected cases remain under investigation. 11 have tested negative. The state is now able to test for the virus without having to send it off to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for results, meaning the results of the test will be available quicker. 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. Anyone with questions on coronavirus is urged to call the ODH Coronavirus Hotline at 1-833-4ASKODH (427-5634).

DeWine said two were recently on a cruise along the Nile. https://www.wkbn.com/news/governor-dewine-announces-3-positive-tests-for-covid-19-coronavirus-in-ohio/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Coronavirus in Ohio: 3 test positive for COVID-19 NEWS Anyone with questions on coronavirus is urged to call the ODH Coronavirus Hotline at 1-833-4ASKODH (427-5634). by: NBC4 Staff Posted: Mar 9, 2020 / 03:17 PM EDT / Updated: Mar 9, 2020 / 04:45 PM EDT COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Governor Mike DeWine announced Monday that there are three positive cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in Ohio. 19 people are talking about this DeWine said it is important to take aggressive action to protect Ohioans, and is declaring a state of emergency in Ohio. All three cases are from Cuyahoga County. All three are in their 50s. DeWine said two were recently on a cruise along the Nile. The third was at an AIPAC conference in Washington DC. Six people who had close contact with the patients are now on home quarantine, WJW reported. Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton says the health department is now evaluating where those people were, where they have traveled and who they have come in contact with. Dr. Acton describes the situation as a pandemic and says the actions taken in the next few days will make everyday life uncomfortable and says more guidance is coming. “We will take very aggressive actions,” said Dr. Acton. Five suspected cases remain under investigation. 11 have tested negative. The state is now able to test for the virus without having to send it off to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for results, meaning the results of the test will be available quicker. 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. Anyone with questions on coronavirus is urged to call the ODH Coronavirus Hotline at 1-833-4ASKODH (427-5634).

The third was at an AIPAC conference in Washington DC. https://www.wkbn.com/news/governor-dewine-announces-3-positive-tests-for-covid-19-coronavirus-in-ohio/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

NEWS 06 MARCH 2020 Why does the coronavirus spread so easily between people? Researchers have identified microscopic features that could make the pathogen more infectious than the SARS virus — and serve as drug targets. Smriti Mallapaty An image of the new coronavirus taken with an electron microscope.Credit: U.S. National Institutes of Health/AP/Shutterstock As the number of coronavirus infections approaches 100,000 people worldwide, researchers are racing to understand what makes it spread so easily. A handful of genetic and structural analyses have identified a key feature of the virus — a protein on its surface — that might explain why it infects human cells so readily. Other groups are investigating the doorway through which the new coronavirus enters human tissues — a receptor on cell membranes. Both the cell receptor and the virus protein offer potential targets for drugs to block the pathogen, but researchers say it is too early to be sure. “Understanding transmission of the virus is key to its containment and future prevention,” says David Veesler, a structural virologist at the University of Washington in Seattle, who posted his team’s findings about the virus protein on the biomedical preprint server bioRxiv on 20 February1. The new virus spreads much more readily than the one that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS (also a coronavirus), and has infected more than ten times the number of people who contracted SARS. Spiky invader To infect a cell, coronaviruses use a ‘spike’ protein that binds to the cell membrane, a process that's activated by specific cell enzymes. Genomic analyses of the new coronavirus have revealed that its spike protein differs from those of close relatives, and suggest that the protein has a site on it which is activated by a host-cell enzyme called furin. This is significant because furin is found in lots of human tissues, including the lungs, liver and small intestines, which means that the virus has the potential to attack multiple organs, says Li Hua, a structural biologist at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began. The finding could explain some of the symptoms observed in people with the coronavirus, such as liver failure, says Li, who co-authored a genetic analysis of the virus that was posted on the ChinaXiv preprint server on 23 February2. SARS and other coronaviruses in the same genus as the new virus don't have furin activation sites, he says. The furin activation site “sets the virus up very differently to SARS in terms of its entry into cells, and possibly affects virus stability and hence transmission”, says Gary Whittaker, a virologist at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. His team published another structural analysis of the coronavirus’s spike protein on bioRxiv on 18 February3. Several other groups have also identified the activation site as possibly enabling the virus to spread efficiently between humans4. They note that these sites are also found in other viruses that spread easily between people, including severe strains of the influenza virus. On these viruses, the activation site is found on a protein called haemagglutinin, not on the spike protein. Urging caution But some researchers are cautious about overstating the role of the activation site in helping the coronavirus to spread more easily. “We don’t know if this is going to be a big deal or not,” says Jason McLellan, a structural biologist at the University of Texas at Austin, who co-authored another structural analysis of the coronavirus, which was published in Science on 20 February5. Other scientists are wary of comparing furin activation sites on flu viruses to those on the new coronavirus. The haemagglutinin protein on the surface of flu viruses isn’t similar or related to the spike protein in coronaviruses, says Peter White, a virologist at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. And the flu virus that caused the deadliest recorded pandemic, the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, doesn’t even have a furin activation site, says Lijun Rong, a virologist at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Whittaker says studies in cell or animal models are needed to test the activation site’s function. “Coronaviruses are unpredictable, and good hypotheses often turn out to be wrong,” he says. His team is currently testing how removing or modifying the site affects the spike protein’s function. Drug targets Li's team are also looking at molecules that could block furin, which could be investigated as possible therapies. But their progress is slow because of the outbreak. Li lives on campus and is currently the only member able to access his team's laboratory. McLellan’s group in Texas has identified another feature that could explain why the new coronavirus infects human cells so successfully. Their experiments have shown that the spike protein binds to a receptor on human cells — known as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) — at least ten times more tightly than does the spike protein in the SARS virus. Veesler’s team has also found this, which suggests that the receptor is another potential target for vaccines or therapies. For example, a drug that blocks the receptor might make it harder for coronavirus to enter cells. doi: 10.1038/d41586-020-00660-x References 1. Walls, A. C. et al. Preprint at bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.19.956581 (2020). 2. Li, H. et al. Preprint at ChinaXiv http://chinaxiv.org/abs/202002.00062 (2020). 3. Jaimes, J. A., André, N. M., Millet, J. K. & Whittaker, G. R. Preprint at bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.10.942185 (2020). 4. Coutard, B. et al. Antiviral Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104742 (2020). PubMed Google Scholar 5. Wrapp, D. et al. Science https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb2507 (2020). https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00660-x?utm_source=Nature+Briefing&utm_campaign=9dd44b4364-briefing-dy-20200309&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c9dfd39373-9dd44b4364-44664341

AUDIO https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/t0309-covid-19-update.mp3

Media Advisory For Immediate Release Monday, March 9, 2020 Contact: CDC Media Relations (404) 639-3286 CDC Media Telebriefing: Update onCOVID-19 What The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will provide an update to media on the COVID-19 response. Who Nancy Messonnier, M.D., Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases When 12:15 p.m. ET Monday, March 9, 2020 Dial-In Media: 800-857-9756 International: 1-212-287-1647 PASSCODE: CDC MEDIA Non-Media: 888-795-0855 International: 1-630-395-0498 PASSCODE: 3896719 Important Instructions Due to anticipated high volume, please plan to dial in to the telebriefing 15 minutes before the start time. Media: If you would like to ask a question during the call, press *1 on your touchtone phone. Press *2 to withdraw your question. You may queue up at any time. You will hear a tone to indicate your question is pending. TRANSCRIPT A transcript will be available following the briefing at CDC’s web site:www.cdc.gov/media.

COVID-19: B.C. announces Canada’s first coronavirus death BY SIMON LITTLE AND JON AZPIRI GLOBAL NEWS Posted March 9, 2020 1:43 pm Updated March 9, 2020 2:24 pm British Columbia has announced the first COVID-19-related death in the country. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the man is one of two people at a North Vancouver care home who was diagnosed with the virus last week. Henry said the man passed away Sunday night. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones and also of course to the staff that provided him care, and to his home at the Lynn Valley Care Centre,” Henry said. Henry said Vancouver Coastal Health officials have been on site at the care home since they learned that a woman who worked at the care centre had been diagnosed with the virus. She said two additional residents at the home had tested positive for the virus, and that ongoing testing and monitoring of all residents at the facility is underway. Another health care worker has also tested positive for the virus, a woman in her 40s who lives in the Fraser Health Region. She remains at home in isolation, Henry said. Henry said officials had also identified two cases who were close contacts of B.C.’s first known case of community transmission of COVID-19, both of whom are now in isolation and being monitored. B.C. has confirmed 32 cases of COVID-19.

British Columbia has announced the first COVID-19-related death in the country. https://globalnews.ca/news/6650774/bc-covid-coronavirus-update-monday/?utm_medium=Twitter&utm_source=%40globalnews

Port Authority Head Tests Positive For Coronavirus Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Rick Cotton, the executive director who has overseen people arriving at airports, tested positive. By Adam Nichols, Patch Staff Mar 9, 2020 11:27 am ET | Updated Mar 9, 2020 11:37 am ET Reply 0 Rick Cotton, Executive Director of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, speaks during a ceremony to commemorate the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing on February 26, 2020 (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images) NEW YORK CITY — The Port Authority's executive director has tested positive for the new coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday. Rick Cotton has been overseeing international arrivals at JFK Airport and other airports. "He has been at airports with many people coming back with the virus," Cuomo said. "He'll be working at home." The rest of his team is being tested and will also work remotely, Cuomo said.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Rick Cotton, the executive director who has overseen people arriving at airports, tested positive. https://patch.com/new-york/new-york-city/port-authority-head-tests-positive-coronavirus

Cuomo press conference cites an increase to 142, including head of Port Authority, Rick Cotton.

Peel Public Health reports third case of COVID-19 BRAMPTON, ON. (March 8, 2020) – Today the Region of Peel - Public Health confirmed the region's third positive case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The individual is a male in his 50's who returned from travel to Germany on March 7. "The individual was seen and assessed at Brampton Civic Hospital, and they were discharged home to follow self-isolation protocols," said Kiki Ferrari, Executive Vice President, Clinical Operations, William Osler Health System. "Thanks to the swift and careful actions of our Emergency Department, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC), and our incident management teams, we were able to take all necessary steps to ensure we protected our staff, physicians, volunteers and community, and that the individual was cared for appropriately and effectively. We extend our thanks to our front-line teams for continuing their diligence in precautions, as well as to Peel Public Health, Public Health Ontario and the Ministry of Health for their ongoing partnership and support in keeping our community safe and protected." Peel Public Health is actively investigating. Those identified who may have had close contact with the infected individual will be contacted directly. The public will be notified should community risk be identified. "We continue to be well prepared to respond to cases of COVID-19 in Peel. A coordinated system is functioning effectively to manage and contain cases to prevent community transmission," said Dr. Jessica Hopkins, Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Peel. "The risk to Peel citizens is still low." Peel Public Health is working with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario and other local health providers to monitor the situation and protect the community. Additional measures in Peel include increased screenings at Pearson International Airport and early identification protocols for paramedics and hospitals. Visit Ontario's COVID-19 page to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19. Stay updated on the novel coronavirus in Peel at peelregion.ca/coronavirus and by following us at @RegionofPeel. Any future COVID-19 cases in Peel will be announced by the Ministry of Health. The Region of Peel's website will remain updated with current information. Media Contacts Scott FryCommunication SpecialistRegion of PeelPhone: 647-224-8643

The individual is a male in his 50's who returned from travel to Germany on March 7. https://peelregion.ca/news/archiveitem.asp?year=2020&month=2&day=8&file=202028.xml

News Release Ontario Confirms New Positive Cases of COVID-19 All Protocols Followed and Risk to Ontarians Remains Low March 8, 2020 8:30 P.M. Ministry of Health TORONTO — This afternoon, Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, confirmed two more positive cases of COVID-19 bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Ontario to 31. Of these, four cases in the province are all resolved, with each of those patients having two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart. A female in her 60s returned from France on March 2, 2020 and presented herself to Scarborough Health Network - General Site's emergency department, in Toronto, on March 7. A male in his 60s returned from Washington, D.C. on March 3, 2020 and presented himself to North York General Hospital's emergency department, also in Toronto, on March 7. In both cases, the hospital took all necessary precautions and followed standard operating procedures, including testing and assessment. The patients have been discharged home where they remain in self-isolation. Toronto Public Health is actively engaged in contact tracing and case management. As a result of the coordinated efforts of our health care and public health system, all individuals who have tested positive have been quickly assessed and isolated. At this time, the virus is not circulating locally. However, given the global circumstances, Ontario is actively working with city and health partners to plan for the potential of local spread. The province continues to carefully monitor this situation and encourage residents to stay informed by regularly reviewing credible information sources. Dr. Williams will provide an update on the situation at the regularly scheduled media briefing Monday, March 9, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. at the Queen's Park media studio. For more details please contact your local Public Health Unit and visit Ontario's website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19. Media Contacts David Jensen Communications Branch [email protected] 416-314-6197 Hayley Chazan Senior Manager, Media Relations [email protected] 416-726-9941

A male in his 60s returned from Washington, D.C. on March 3, 2020 and presented himself to North York General Hospital's emergency department, also in Toronto, on March 7. https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2020/03/ontario-confirms-new-positive-case-of-covid-19-2.html

Elderly Oahu man ‘very ill’ after contracting COVID-19 during Washington State trip Elderly Oahu man ‘very ill’ after contracting COVID-19 during Washington State trip By Dillon Ancheta | March 8, 2020 at 4:07 PM HST - Updated March 8 at 10:54 PM HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Department of Health officials announced a second case of COVID-19 in Hawaii on Sunday. In a news advisory, they said the case was a “presumptive positive.” Gov. David Ige said the patient was an elderly man who lives on Oahu who recently traveled to Washington State. Officials said he fell ill on March 2 and returned to Hawaii on March 4. Late Sunday night, health officials confirmed he arrived in Honolulu from Seattle on Hawaiian Airlines Flight HA21 on March 4. After arriving in Honolulu, he went to an urgent care facility. During his initial visit, a COVID-19 test was not done. Officials are working to figure out why a test wasn’t done then. Elderly Oahu man recently traveled to Washington State becomes Hawaii's second COVID-19 case On March 7, an ambulance then took the man to a hospital from his home. That’s when staff conducted the COVID-19 test which came back as a presumptive positive on Sunday. The test was conducted due to his travel history, officials said. “This is a very ill individual and from what we understand of the story, basically stayed at home in bed until the ambulance was called,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said. The patient is in isolation at a Kaiser Permanente facility, according to a statement by the company. “Per CDC infection control protocol, we can acknowledge that Kaiser Permanente has one coronavirus patient in isolation and as previously reported, is also overseeing the care of a patient who is home in self-isolation,” the statement said. It adds, “Kaiser Permanente has confronted highly infectious diseases for years. Staff are following CDC protocols and we’re confident we can safely treat patients who’ve been infected with this virus, with limited risk to other patients, members, and employees.” State officials say they are working with the CDC to identify those who may have come in close contact with the man as a part of the ongoing investigation. “Primarily, did you have face-to-face contact with this person for a significant time? That’s what we’re looking for. That’s what is the risk," Dr. Park said. “If you just passed someone, that’s not really the risk. That’s not the risk that we’re looking for.” Health officials are currently investigating who might have come in contact with the patient. They are working to contact passengers who were two rows in front of or behind him on his flight home. “At this time as you might imagine, our staff at the department are working very hard to try and determine if there are any other potential close contacts to this individual. From the history we have thus far, we are confident there are very few in terms of direct contact in the State of Hawaii,” Dr. Park said. In a statement, Hawaiian Airlines said, in part: “The health and safety of our passengers and employees is our priority, and we are cooperating with public health agencies to support notification of passengers as the CDC deems necessary. We have also reached out to our crew and agents who supported this flight to make sure that they are healthy and supported. As is true for our entire transpacific fleet, the aircraft that operated HA21 was thoroughly sanitized upon arrival by a team of 16 cleaners who utilized disinfectants that effectively kill most viruses, including COVID-19.” Despite the latest diagnosis, health officials are pointing to one thin silver lining: The virus hasn’t shown signs of person-to-person transmission in Hawaii so far. “We have not yet had any cases of COVID-19 that have been transmitted among residents here in Hawaii. All the individuals we’ve identified so far have a travel history to some area where COVID-19 is circulating outside of Hawaii,” DOH Director Bruce Anderson said. “That’s the good news.” 23 people are talking about this Details are limited as officials acknowledge the investigation is in its very early days. They stressed they are diligently working to find out more information on the case alongside the CDC. Park added that for those who may have been on the same flight as the man, CDC recommendations would call for a closer look at travelers in the same row as the patient, along with two rows in front and two rows behind. [ LIST: Latest local information on the coronavirus outbreak ] This story will be updated.

the patient was an elderly man who lives on Oahu who recently traveled to Washington State https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/03/09/department-health-announces-second-case-covid-/

Massachusetts cases now total 28, includes one confirmed, 27 presumptive positive FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3/08/2020 Department of Public Health BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced 15 new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed or presumptive positive cases in Massachusetts to 28. All 15 cases had a direct connection to the Biogen employee conference in late February. The presumptive positive cases include five from Suffolk County ranging in age from 30s to 60s; five from Middlesex County ranging in age from 40s to 60s; four cases from Norfolk County ranging in age from 40s to 60s; and a female whose age and county of residence are unknown at the time of this release. Among today’s presumptive positive cases were eight men and seven women. With today’s release, 23 of the presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 identified in Massachusetts are associated with the Biogen employee meeting held in late February. All of today’s presumptive positive cases are isolating at home. Yesterday, DPH announced five new presumptive positive cases, three of which had a direct connection to Biogen’s employee conference, one with recent international travel, and a fifth case for whom there is no current known linkage to the Biogen conference or foreign travel. The risk of COVID-19 to the general public in Massachusetts remains low at this time. The State Public Health Lab’s result is considered “presumptive positive” and the specimens will now be sent to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for confirmation. The Department of Public Health is providing daily updates on the number of confirmed and presumptive positive cases at mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-cases-quarantine-and-monitoring. Case-specific information will be updated on the site Monday, March 9. As of Wednesday, March 4, 719 people have been subject to self-quarantine in Massachusetts because of COVID-19. Of those, 470 people have completed monitoring and are no longer quarantined, while 249 are currently quarantined. This information is updated online each Wednesday. For more information on COVID-19 visit mass.gov/2019coronavirus. ### Media Contact for 15 New Presumptive Positive Cases of COVID-19 Identified by Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory Ann Scales, Director of Media Relations

All 15 cases had a direct connection to the Biogen employee conference in late February. The presumptive positive cases include five from Suffolk County ranging in age from 30s to 60s; five from Middlesex County ranging in age from 40s to 60s; four cases from Norfolk County ranging in age from 40s to 60s; and a female whose age and county of residence are unknown at the time of this release. Among today’s presumptive positive cases were eight men and seven women. With today’s release, 23 of the presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 identified in Massachusetts are associated with the Biogen employee meeting held in late February. https://www.mass.gov/news/15-new-presumptive-positive-cases-of-covid-19-identified-by-massachusetts-state-public-health

Age 0 to 19 years 3 20 to 29 years 6 30 to 39 years 13 40 to 49 years 17 50 to 59 years 19 60 to 69 years 27 70 to 79 years 13 80+ years 27 Unknown 11 Sex at Birth Female 70 Male 51 Unknown 15 Total Tests Positive 136 Negative 1,110 * Includes deaths † Please contact the local health department for information. Note: Some deaths may be reported by health care providers, medical examiners/coroners, local health departments, or others before they are included in the statewide count. It takes longer for the state to announce deaths because they are most often reported first to local health, then to us. Our daily web update includes all death reports we receive by the end of the previous day. Last updated: March 8, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.