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Coronavirus case may have reached northern Indiana

Porter County is testing patient
Posted at 11:01 PM, Jan 28, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-29 18:24:58-05

VALPARAISO — A person traveling through northern Indiana may be infected with the novel coronavirus.

Dr. Maria Stamp of the Porter County Health Department in Valparaiso says her department and the Centers for Disease Control are waiting for the results of tests on the person. "Out of an abundance of caution, the individual has been placed in isolation and is currently under active medical supervision," said Stamp.

U.S. health officials insist the risk to Americans from the scary new virus from China is very low. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday that worry about the virus should not impact the day-to-day lives of Americans.

So far, reports the Associated Press, there have been five confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S. and no sign these patients have spread the disease to those around them. As a precaution the U.S. is beefing up its checks on returning international travelers beyond the five airports initially announced to 20 entry points.