Washington state announces first U.S. coronavirus death

SEATTLE (KOMO) – The Washington State Department of Health said Saturday a person has died of COVID-19, the first death in the United States.

No other details were given about the death as of Saturday morning.

Officials plan to hold a press conference at 1 p.m. with more details.

The Department of Health announced Friday evening two presumably new cases of coronavirus, including a school-aged student in Everett, Washington.

The department said the results from the individuals' tests came back "preemptively positive," but are pending official confirmation from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

A student from Jackson High School in Mill Creek with no travel history is one of the people infected with the COVID-19 virus. The student started feeling ill Monday with body aches, chills and a headache, the department said. Health officials said the student returned to school when he started feeling better, before results Friday revealed the child was sick with coronavirus.

Everett Public Schools said in a tweet Friday evening Jackson High School will be closed March 2 for three days to disinfect the campus.

The other presumed positive coronavirus test was a woman in her 50s from King County. Health officials said the woman traveled to Daegu, South Korea Feb. 7-23 and returned to Seattle to work Monday before she felt symptoms Tuesday. She reported her symptoms to health officials Wednesday and was tested for the virus Thursday.

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