US: New York state confirms 1st case of coronavirus

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. state of New York confirmed its first case of the novel coronavirus late Sunday.

In a statement, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said a woman in her 30s had contracted the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, while in Iran and she is now isolated in her home.

"The patient has respiratory symptoms but is not in serious condition and has been in a controlled situation since arriving to New York," said Cuomo.

The positive test was confirmed by New York's Wadsworth Lab in Albany, he said.

New York's first case came a day after health officials in Washington state said a patient died, marking the first death in the U.S. from the disease.

The governor said the risk remains low in New York and authorities “are diligently managing this situation and will continue to provide information as it becomes available."

The global death toll from the coronavirus has reached nearly 3,000 with more than 88,000 infected.

It was first detected in Wuhan city in central China in December.

The World Health Organization, which already declared the outbreak an international health emergency, has updated the global risk level to very high.