Covid-19 Outbreak In The U.S. -- News Updates February 27, 2020

Daily Mail: CDC 'took FOUR DAYS to test coronavirus patient with unknown origin' because she 'didn't fit infection criteria' - as dozens of staff at the California hospital are ordered to isolate and experts fear the disease could explode quickly like it did in Italy

* Health officials confirmed the first case of coronavirus where origin of disease is unknown on Wednesday
* CDC said patient hadn't traveled from foreign country and wasn't in contact with another confirmed case
* Patient is being treated at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento; origin of patient's infection is not known
* Email from hospital officials said CDC took four days to test patient, despite requests from hospital staff
* Some hospital staffers were also asked to go home, isolate themselves and monitor their temperatures
* President Donald Trump insisted in a press conference on Wednesday that the risk to Americans is 'low'
* Trump also said that the United States would 'spend whatever's appropriate' to deal with the outbreak
* The president announced Vice-President Mike Pence will be in charge of the nation's response to the disease
* There are 60 coronavirus cases in the US, including 42 passengers who were on Diamond Princess cruise ship
* Stocks on Wall Street dropped for the sixth day in a row after a press conference by Trump on Wednesday failed to calm fears amid concerns of a massive coronavirus outbreak
* Pope Francis canceled Thursday morning Mass at St John Lateran basilica Mass in Rome due to illness just a day after he kissed heads and touched faces and said he had solidarity with those suffering from coronavirus

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took four days to test a woman with the first confirmed case of coronavirus where the origin of the disease is unknown because she hadn't traveled abroad or been exposed to an infected patient as experts warn the deadly virus could spread quickly in the US like it did in Italy.

The woman, who is a resident of Solano County, which is about 35 miles outside of Sacramento, was admitted into UC Davis Medical Center on February 19.

But questions are now being asked over the CDC's handling of the case after an email from medical center officials to employees revealed that the CDC took four days to test the patient for the deadly disease despite requests from staff at the center.

Read more ....

Covid-19 Outbreak In The U.S. -- News Updates February 27, 2020

New US coronavirus case may be 1st from unknown origin -- AP
California monitoring 8,400 for possible coronavirus but lacks test kits -- Reuters
California is monitoring at least 8,400 for signs of coronavirus as 33 test positive for COVID-19 in the state including a patient with 'unknown origin' who 'took FOUR DAYS' to be screened for the disease as 'they didn't fit the criteria' for infection -- Daily Mail
Coronavirus Precautions: Hundreds In New York Asked To Isolate Themselves, Including 112 On Long Island, 8 In Westchester -- CBS New York
A single coronavirus case exposes a bigger problem: The scope of undetected U.S. spread is unknown -- Stat News
White House GAGS government health experts from speaking about coronavirus saying they must have Mike Pence's approval for EVERYTHING they say about mounting crisis - despite VP having zero medical qualifications -- Daily Mail
Is there a doctor in the house? Mike Pence unveils the White House's coronavirus taskforce amid growing crisis and Wall Street plunge - with just FOUR medical experts out of 15 chiefs (and one of them isn't even there) -- Daily Mail
US reports worrisome new coronavirus case as Trump urges calm -- Al Jazeera
Health workers dealing with Americans in coronavirus quarantine 'did not have proper training or protective gear and moved on and off military bases, interacting with public' -- Daily Mail
U.S. health secretary says at least 40 labs can currently test for coronavirus -- Reuters
Congress eyes billions in funding to fight coronavirus -- AP
Pence says virus poses low-level threat in U.S., working with Congress on spending bill -- Reuters
Pence taps career health official to coordinate White House coronavirus response -- The Hill
White House announces coronavirus ‘coordinator’ to lead response under Mike Pence -- SCMP/Politico
Trump names VP Pence to lead coronavirus response -- BBC
Exclusive: U.S. mulls using sweeping powers to ramp up production of coronavirus protective gear -- Reuters
Mask mania: US government is stockpiling 300 MILLION coronavirus face masks, stores sell out, eBay sees thousand-dollar listings and celebs cover-up - as experts warn paper masks will not offer protection -- Daily Mail
States ramp up virus preparations, try to reassure public -- AP
CDC declined to test new coronavirus patient for days, California hospital says -- The Hill