DPH: ASU coronavirus patient released from isolation
Feb 23, 2020, 9:04 AM | Updated: Mar 9, 2020, 1:04 pm
Passengers wear masks as they arrive at Manila's international airport, Philippines, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. The government is closely monitoring arrival of passengers as a new coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China has infected hundreds and caused deaths in that area. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
PHOENIX — The coronavirus patient connected to the Arizona State University community has been released from isolation, Maricopa County Department of Public Health said in a statement Friday.
“The individual, a male with ties to Arizona State University, has received multiple negative tests from CDC and meets the criteria to be released from isolation. We would like to thank this individual for his patience and commitment to public health during his prolonged isolation with very mild illness,” the statement read.
“There is no risk of COVID-19 to the community from this individual and we encourage his friends, family and the community to support him as he transitions back to his everyday activities.”
Here is an update on the case of COVID-19 (formerly known as 2019 novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV) in Maricopa County: pic.twitter.com/wHr5ykkgtY
— Public Health (@Maricopahealth) February 21, 2020
The male patient, whose name has not been released, was first isolated on Jan. 26 after showing signs of the illness. The man had recently traveled to Wuhan, China, the center of the outbreak.
He was the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in the state. The United States has seen about a dozen cases with no fatalities.
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As of Friday, more than 75,000 people globally had been infected with the coronavirus, about 74,000 in mainland China. About 2,000 people have died.
Symptoms of coronavirus are very similar to that of the flu.
The virus can cause fever, coughing, wheezing and pneumonia. It is a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to the deadly SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past.
