Health authorities announced Thursday 2 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in San Francisco, the first to be confirmed in the city.
Officials said both patients did not travel to any country with COVID-19, which confirms there is now community spread in San Francisco.
The first patient - a man in his 90s with underlying health conditions - is in serious condition. The second is a woman in her 40’s with no underlying health conditions.
The two patients are unrelated, are being treated at separate hospitals and had no contact with known infections.
San Francisco Mayor London Nicole Breed said a cruise ship, the Grand Princess, is waiting off the San Francisco coast after one of its previous passengers died of COVID-19 in California.
Thirty-five of the more than 3,000 people on board have shown flu-like symptoms.
The Philippine health department earlier confirmed there are more than 500 Filipino crew members on the Grand Princess.
Breed said all the passengers and crew members will be tested for COVID-19. She added she has yet to decide where or when the ship will dock, adding that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention procedures and protocols will be observed when the ship reaches port.
The San Francisco Director for Public Health said residents should avoid shaking hands and should do elbow bumping instead.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
