SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – With groups of coronavirus cases worldwide outside of China, the World Health Organization has issued a threatening warning about stopping the growing spread of the disease.
The warning came on Friday as there were also several developments involving the disease in Northern California – an epicenter in the United States for the treatment of victims who contracted the coronavirus.
WHO warned that clusters not directly related to travel, such as those in South Korea, Italy and Iran, suggest that time is running out to contain the epidemic.
“The window of opportunity is still there. But our window of opportunity is shrinking, “said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We must act quickly before it closes completely.”
“This outbreak could go in any direction. It could also be messy, “he continued.” What I’m saying is: it’s in our hands now. If we do well within the narrow window of opportunity, we can avoid any serious crisis. “
Here are some of the other developments of the coronavirus since Friday.
- Coronavirus debunk theory of disease experts was created in the bio-weapons laboratory:
Many of the world’s leading experts have turned to the media – both social and traditional media – to unmask a circulating rumor that coronavirus is a germ that has escaped from a secret Chinese bio-weapons laboratory. Richard Ebright, a professor of chemical biology at Rutgers University, told the Washington Post that “based on the genome and properties of the virus, there is no indication that it was a planned virus.” - Judicial battle over the transfer of coronavirus patients to Southern California: On Friday, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to block the transfer of at least 50 confirmed coronavirus patients from Travis Air Force Base to Costa Mesa in Orange County. Federal court documents filed alleged that the federal government planned to move patients from Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield to the former Fairview Development Center on Sunday or Monday. But the numbers don’t add up. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday that there were only 31 confirmed cases in the United States and 11 of these were being treated at the University of Nebraska.
- New confirmed cases of coronavirus in Humboldt, Sacramento counties
Humboldt County health officials announced that they were treating their first confirmed coronavirus case and that a second person was being tested for the disease. Sacramento County health officials also announced their first confirmed case. Officials reported that the individual returned from China to the United States on February 2, flying to San Francisco International and has since been self-quarantined and has taken precautionary measures on their return home. The individual started showing mild symptoms during self-quarantine. - Wuhan Airlift Coronavirus Evacuees released, quarantined at Travis Air Force Base
All 234 people evacuated from China and placed in quarantine at Travis Air Force Base were released after remaining free of the new coronavirus, according to officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The displaced people were flown from China by the U.S. State Department and arrived in Travis on February 5 and February 7. They were released in two batches – one Tuesday and one Thursday – after a 14-day mandatory quarantine period, according to CDC spokesman Scott Pauley. - California tells 7,600 people to self-quarantine for coronavirus spread
People in California who recently returned from China were asked to stay home for the rest of the month to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus. The California Department of Public Health said Friday that 7,600 people were urged to self-quarantine: stay at home, monitor their health and limit interaction with other people. - Coronavirus turns the Redwood City couple’s dream cruise into quarantine chaos
As they sat down for dinner on January 27, aboard the luxury cruise ship Diamond Princess bound for Japan, Rick and Kathy Wright of Redwood City had two good reasons for a champagne toast. But the celebration ended early when the cruise ship was hit by a coronavirus outbreak.
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