Coronavirus

Berkeley coronavirus: 1st case of COVID-19 confirmed by city health officials

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

City of Berkeley confirms 1st case of novel coronavirus

City health officials have confirmed the first case of COVID-19. Here's what we know.

BERKELEY, Calif. -- City of Berkeley health officials confirmed the first case of novel coronavirus Tuesday afternoon.

"Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez announced Tuesday that a resident tested positive for COVID-19, a new coronavirus spreading around the world and for which everyone should prepare locally," the city said in a press release.

The patient is a Berkeley resident in their 30's. Dr. Hernandez says the person returned home on Feb. 23 from Italy, and started feeling symptoms the next day.

This person has no chronic medical conditions, is healthy, and recovering at home.

"Concerned about being exposed through travel, the resident largely stayed at home in a voluntary self-imposed quarantine," officials said.

"They are isolating at home and we are monitoring them," Dr. Hernandez added.

A statement from Dr. Hernandez reads, in part, ""While the risk of infection remains low, the expanded presence of the virus in our community is a reality we should all prepare for. There are steps that all of us in the community can take now to improve basic hygiene and also prepare for a wider spread in the future."

She says the City of Berkeley has been preparing for coronavirus for more than six weeks, since they first heard about the China outbreak in mid-January.

Here's what she had to say about the treatment of this patient and how the city is responding while preparing for more possible diagnoses:

She says the City of Berkeley has been preparing for coronavirus for more than six weeks, since they first heard about the China outbreak in mid-January.

Stay with ABC7 News for the latest details on this developing story.

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