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5 states report first coronavirus deaths as US cases top 9,300

Posted at 4:27 AM, Mar 18, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-18 23:26:59-04

The states of Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan , Missouri and Pennsylvania reported the states' first fatality connected with COVID-19 on Wednesday.

According to officials with Beaumont Health, a man in Michigan in his 50s with underlying health issues that had been diagnosed with the virus had died.

"Our medical team went to extraordinary efforts to care for this patient and we are deeply saddened by his passing and empathize with his family," Beaumont Health Chief Nursing Officer Susan Grant said.

The announcement came the same day that confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. had more than doubled since Monday, as increased testing capacity has allowed health officials to track the spread of the disease more accurately.

In Pennsylvania, an adult in Northampton County became the state's first coronavirus-related death in the state after seeking treatment at a hospital.

In Missouri, a coronavirus victim at the University of Missouri Health Care hospital in Columbia died, the state's governor confirmed.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont confirmed on Wednesday the death of a man in his 80s who was living at an assisted living facility in Ridgefield. The man died at the Danbury Hospital.

In Maryland, a man in his 60s died who had a preexisting condition .

As of Wednesday morning, at least 9,300 people were confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19, according to a database kept by Johns Hopkins. At least 150 people have died in connection with the disease.

Infographic: COVID-19: Cases & Recoveries | Statista You will find more infographics at Statista

The total number of people infected with COVID-19 is likely much higher.

On Monday, there were about 3,000 confirmed cases of the virus in the United States. There have been 17 confirmed recoveries.

On Friday, the FDA approved new testing methods via emergency approval. The new testing methods have allowed health departments to set up drive-thru testing sites throughout the country, which will further increase capacity and help researchers track the disease.

Around the world, more than 200,000 people are confirmed to have contracted the disease, and 8,000 have died. At least 82,000 people have recovered from the disease.

Infographic: Where The Coronavirus Has Been Confirmed | Statista You will find more infographics at Statista

On Friday, the FDA approved new testing methods via emergency approval. The new testing methods have allowed health departments to set up drive-thru testing sites throughout the country, which will further increase capacity and help researchers track the disease.

Researchers urge anyone who thinks they may be infected with COVID-19 first to call their doctor or healthcare provider. Those medical professionals can either direct patients to the nearest testing facility or provide more crucial information.

Those who do not have underlying health issues may not require a COVID-19 test. Instead, some may just be told to self-isolate in order to conserve testing resources.

"You don't need to be tested to know what to do," Vice President Mike Pence said earlier this week.