The first novel coronavirus cases were reported in Florida and New York on Sunday while officials in Washington state confirmed the second US death from the outbreak.
The New York patient is a woman in her late 30s, who contracted the virus while traveling in Iran and is currently isolated in her home, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
“The patient has respiratory symptoms, but is not in serious condition and has been in a controlled situation since arriving to New York,” Cuomo’s statement read.
The New York State Department of Health said the patient went to a hospital in Manhattan after contracting the virus.
Cuomo said approval for state testing was granted Saturday and the positive test was confirmed by New York’s Wadsworth Lab in Albany.
“There is no cause for surprise — this was expected,” Cuomo said. “As I said from the beginning, it was a matter of when, not if there would be a positive case of novel coronavirus in New York.
“Disease detectives in New York have already identified close contacts of the patient, according to New York City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot.
“As we confront this emerging outbreak, we need to separate facts from fear, and guard against stigma and panic,” Barbot said.