Health & Fitness
No Coronavirus Case At NJ Hospital (UPDATE)
UPDATE: NJ officials said they were probing a possible report of coronavirus involving a patient at Hackensack University Medical Center.
NEW JERSEY – A spokeswoman for Hackensack University Medical Center said one of its patients does not have the coronavirus.
Nancy A. Radwin, a spokeswoman for the operators of Hackensack Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health, released this statement:
“After an evaluation of the patient and consulting with the state Department of Health, experts have determined the patient does not have the Wuhan Coronavirus. Due to patient privacy, we are unable to provide additional information.”
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The patient was discharged from the hospital, she said.
New Jersey health officials said late Thursday that they were investigating a possible case of coronavirus involving a patient at the hospital.
Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
State health officials and Hackensack Meridian Health issued statements saying that no definitive diagnosis has been made.
But, the state Department of Health said, everyone involved was "following all appropriate infection control protocols."
"The hospital, the Department of Health and local health officials are working together to gather additional information. No definitive diagnosis has been made regarding the patient," the state DOH said in a statement. "As a precautionary measure, the hospital is following all appropriate infection control protocols."
Here is the first statement from the hospital on Thursday night:
#DEVELOPING: @CBSNewYork asked @HackensackUMC if it is testing a patient brought into the hospital tonight for #Coronavirus. Here is the response: pic.twitter.com/feIpJdfZPE
— Jessica Layton (@JLaytonTV) January 24, 2020
Coronaviruses is a family of viruses, some of which cause respiratory illness in humans, according to the CDC. The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the coronavirus caused 17 deaths in the Hubei province and sickened over 570 people, mostly in the province. The CDC has confirmed a case in the U.S. in Washington state but believes the risk to the U.S. at large remains low.
The virus outbreak was initially believed to be spreading from animal to person, but officials believe limited person-to-person spreading is occurring. The CDC says "it's unclear how easily this virus is spreading between people." Symptoms include fever, cough and trouble breathing.
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