MANSFIELD — Richland Public Health issued the following update on the coronavirus on Monday afternoon:
It started with a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Dec. 31, 2019 of a new type of coronavirus in China (now known as COVID-19).
By the first of March, there were more than 87,000 cases as the respiratory virus expanded worldwide, causing nearly 3,000 deaths and threatening to become a global pandemic. Health experts now say that it is inevitable that the virus will spread in United States where, as of the end of February, there had been only a few cases.
Ohio’s public health system includes a team of local and state partners who perform daily monitoring of reportable diseases, including COVID-19. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will be ready to respond if a case is reported in Ohio.
At 1 p.m. Monday, the Washington Post reported the following updates:
South Korea announced 599 new cases, bringing its total to 4,335 with 22 deaths. In China, the number of new cases was 202, bringing its total to 80,026, including 2,912 deaths.
The United States announced two deaths from covid-19 over the weekend, both in Washington state, and a new case was found in New York. The U.S. government has confirmed 87 coronavirus cases. Kirkland, Wash., has become a hub for the coronavirus response, as evidence suggests the virus may have spread undetected in the state for weeks.
This is a rapidly evolving heath situation. Richland Public Health has COVID-19 web page and highly suggests the public rely on the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, and the Ohio Department of Health for updates and useful advice.
