Arkansas records first case of coronavirus in state, declares public emergency,
According to the CDC, the risk of being exposed to the coronavirus (COVID-19) for most people is low. The CDC recommends taking simple, everyday steps to avoid catching or spreading respiratory diseases including COVID-19. These include covering your cough or sneeze and thoroughly washing or sanitizing your hands. Call your doctor and stay home if you are sick. Get more information at Cdc.gov/coronavirus or contact the Tennessee Department of Health coronavirus information line at 877-857-2945 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Arkansas recorded its first case of the new coronavirus, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Wednesday.
The patient is from Pine Bluff and is currently in isolation, he said. The governor also declared a public health emergency because of coronavirus, which has infected more than 1,000 people in the United States and killed at least 30.
Pine Bluff is located about 2 1/2 hours west of Memphis, Tennessee.
The patient had traveled out of state recently but had no known international travel, the governor said.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.
According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.