Health officials in Washington state have announced that the first death related to the coronavirus has occurred.
On Saturday, Washington state health officials said that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has claimed its first victim from the United States.
"It is a sad day in our state as we learn that a Washingtonian has died from COVID-19. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. We will continue to work toward a day where no one dies from this virus,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee in a statement.
The individual was in their 50s and considered "medically high-risk." It is unknown if this person traveled recently, which means that the coronavirus was contracted within the U.S.
No other information has been given on the victim at this time.
The spread of the coronavirus has been deemed "inevitable" for the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 60,000 cases have been reported worldwide, with 66 cases in the U.S.—including nine people who have recovered and four "presumptive" cases (those that test positively with confirmation pending from the CDC).
Washington is not the only state to have new cases reported recently; Oregon and California both reported new cases of the coronavirus on Friday.
The CDC encourages that those with beards need to shave, as it will help protect and prevent the spread of the virus.