Coronavirus confirmed in all 50 states with first West Virginia diagnosis

by Justin Wise - 03/17/20 6:46 PM ET

West Virginia on Tuesday reported its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, becoming the last of the 50 states to announce that the disease has spread within its borders.

“Our health officials came to me and said we do have our first positive in the Eastern panhandle,” West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) said during a news conference, announcing that he is closing bars and restaurants in the Mountain State. “We knew it was coming, we’ve prepared for this and we shouldn’t panic.”

In a statement, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D) said, “The safety and well-being of every West Virginian must remain our top priority and we all share the responsibility to prevent further spread of this virus and exercise responsible choices which include social distancing. I support Governor Justice’s decision to close restaurants, bars, and casinos because we must do everything we can to slow this virus down.”

The U.S. has reported more than 5,800 confirmed cases and 101 deaths from the disease as of Tuesday evening, according to a database from The New York Times.

The outbreak has upended everyday life, prompting mass closures of schools and businesses and leading city and state governments to implement measures designed to prevent mass gatherings. The White House on Monday urged against gathering in groups of more than 10 and called on U.S. residents to avoid any unnecessary travel.

Alabama, Idaho, Montana and West Virginia were among the last states to confirm coronavirus cases.

The disease, known as COVID-19, originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December and first appeared in the United States in January.

The first U.S. case of the virus was reported in Washington state. More than 800 confirmed cases of the virus had been reported in the state as of Tuesday evening.

Tags Joe Manchin