Washington State risks seeing explosion in coronavirus cases, new analysis says

The number of Covid-19 cases in Washington could explode in much the same way as in Wuhan if critical public health measures aren't put into place, according to a new analysis. A genetic analysis of samples from the first U.S. patients with Covid-19 suggests that the virus behind the disease has been in circulation in the Seattle area since mid-January, when the first U.S. patient was diagnosed. As such, there could be up to 600 more cases in the area that have not yet been diagnosed, computational biologist Trevor Bedford tells STAT, who adds that now would be the time for public health authorities to put in place measures to prevent further spread of the virus. The outbreak in the state has grown to 27 cases and nine deaths.

At the same time, the WHO is also urging public health and government action by emphazing that the novel coronavirus is not like other viruses, including the flu. “We don’t even talk about containment for seasonal flu — it’s just not possible,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “But it is possible for Covid-19.”