同时，我们也正在对卫生保健设施中可能发生的疫情进行调查。
据美国疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）和华盛顿州公共卫生官员报告，有三名住院患者在导致COVID-19的病毒检测中呈假定阳性，其中一名患者已经死亡。
虽然正在进行调查，但这些感染的源头目前尚不清楚。目前情况显示是在该社区（包括这家长期护理机构）中的人际传播。 
CDC发言人南希·梅索尼耶博士表示：“我们的心与死亡病人的家人同在，也与这次疫情爆发的受害者的家人同在。这家专业护理机构的住院者、工作人员及社群的健康是重中之重。我们将与西雅图和金县的公共卫生部门共同努力，为病人的护理、医护人员的安全以及周边社区人民的福祉提供支持。” 
这是在美国首例报告的因COVID-19死亡的病例，也是报告的首例医护人员病例以及首次可能在一家长期护理机构中爆发的疫情。在这些来自华盛顿州的报告之前，本周早些时候在俄勒冈州以及在加利福尼亚州的两个地方有其他关于社区传播的报告。尽管对于在加利福尼亚州、俄勒冈州和华盛顿州的形势发展仍有许多有待了解，但初步信息提升了对于COVID-19对美国某些社区构成的直接威胁的关注度。在美国的大多数人将几乎没有暴露于这种病毒的直接风险，但有些人将则根据暴露程度而面临更大的风险。与COVID-19患者有过密切接触的人风险最大。疑似或确认暴露者应与其所在州或当地公共卫生部门取得联系。 
CDC正派出一支专家团队来支持在华盛顿的调查。梅索尼耶博士表示：“我们认识到这是一个艰难的时期；我们面临着一个历史性的公共卫生挑战。我们将继续以积极的方式应对COVID-19，以遏制和减弱这一病毒的威胁。尽管我们仍然抱有最好的希望，但我们继续为这一病毒在美国的扩散做好准备。” 
这三宗病例使通过美国公共卫生系统检测到的COVID-19病例总数达到22例。联邦政府将继续对这一迅速发展的局势做出积极反应。 
在华盛顿州已使用CDC rRT-PCR对导致COVID-19的病毒进行了测试。结果将在CDC得到确认，但使用CDC测试得出的假定阳性结果被视为出于公共卫生应对目的的阳性结果，而且协调一致的公共卫生应对措施已经开启。 
有关COVID-19的更多信息，请访问www.cdc.gov/covid19。

There also are ongoing investigations into possible outbreaks in health care settings
 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health officials in the state of Washington have reported three hospitalized patients who have tested presumptive-positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, including one patient who died. 
While there is an ongoing investigation, the source of these infections is currently unknown. Circumstances suggest person-to-person spread in the community, including in the LTCF. 
CDC spokesperson Dr. Nancy Messonnier said, “Our hearts go out to the family of the patient who died as well as the families of the people who are caught up in this outbreak. The health of the residents, staff and community of this skilled nursing facility are a top priority. We will work with Public Health – Seattle and King County to support the care of the patients, the safety of the health care workers, and the well-being of the people in the surrounding community.” 
This is the first reported death in the United States from COVID-19, as well as the first reported case in a health care worker and the first possible outbreak in a LTCF. These reports from Washington follow others of community spread in Oregon and two places in California earlier this week. While there is still much to learn about the unfolding situations in California, Oregon and Washington, preliminary information raises the level of concern about the immediate threat for COVID-19 for certain communities in the United States. Most people in the United States will have little immediate risk of exposure to this virus, but some people will be at increased risk depending on their exposures. The greatest risk is to those who have been in close contact with people with COVID-19. People with suspected or confirmed exposure should reach out to their state or local public health department. 
CDC is sending a team of experts to support the investigation in Washington. Dr. Messonnier said, “We recognize that this is a difficult time; we are facing a historic public health challenge. We will continue to respond to COVID-19 in an aggressive way to contain and blunt the threat of this virus. While we still hope for the best, we continue to prepare for this virus to become widespread in the United States.” 
These three cases bring the total number of COVID-19 cases detected through the U.S. public health system to 22. The federal government will continue to respond aggressively to this rapidly evolving situation. 
Testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 was conducted in Washington state using the CDC rRT-PCR. Results will be confirmed at CDC, but a presumptive positive result using the CDC test is treated as a positive for public health response purposes and a coordinated public health response has begun. 
For more information about COVID-19 visit www.cdc.gov/covid19.
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