Second case of coronavirus confirmed in Santa Clara County, unrelated to first case

Two+women%2C+both+wearing+protective+masks%2C+select+vegetables+at+99+Ranch+Market+in+Cupertino+on+Sunday+evening.+Due+to+the+global+novel+coronavirus+outbreak+and+the+recent+confirmation+of+cases+in+Santa+Clara+County%2C+stores+around+the+Bay+Area+have+been+experiencing+shortages+of+masks.

Kathy Fang

Two women, both wearing protective masks, select vegetables at 99 Ranch Market in Cupertino on Sunday evening. Due to the global novel coronavirus outbreak and the recent confirmation of cases in Santa Clara County, stores around the Bay Area have been experiencing shortages of masks.

by Varsha Rammohan and Gloria Zhang

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed a second case of the new coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, in Santa Clara County today to the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. 

This second case, an adult female, is a visitor to the county who recently traveled to Wuhan, China, and arrived in the U.S. on Jan. 23 to visit family. She has not experienced serious symptoms and has been isolated along with her family, apart from seeking outpatient medical care twice.

This report is unrelated to the first case in the county of an adult man who also recently traveled to Wuhan. This becomes the sixth coronavirus case in California and the eleventh in the United States since Jan. 20.

Eric Fang
Santa Clara County Public Health Department (SCCPHD) Health Officer and Director Dr. Sara Cody, M.D., speaks to reporters this afternoon about the second case of 2019-nCoV in Santa Clara County. This second case is unrelated to the first case in the county, which was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, Jan 31.

“The two cases we’ve confirmed are both travel-associated. Both of these cases had exposure in Wuhan, China. Both were essentially remaining in one household since they came,” Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said in a Facebook livestream news conference at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon. “That’s why I don’t think these two cases change the risk to the general public.”

As of today, cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Santa Clara County; San Benito County, C.A.; Los Angeles County, C.A.; Orange County; C.A; Tempe, A.Z.; Snohomish County, W.A.; Chicago, I.L. and Boston, M.A.

The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department advises residents to continue to “engage in their regular activities and practice good health hygiene” during this time of the year as it is also the height of the flu season. Good hygiene practices include frequent handwashing with soap and refraining from touching the eyes, nose or mouth as it may lead to additional spread of germs.

Santa Clara County also states that “healthy people should not be excluded from activities based on their race, country of origin, or recent travel,” reiterating a message emailed to parents from Head of School Brian Yager on Jan. 31.