The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement saying that the Coronavirus already spread in America in mid-January. It turns out that the government was 13 days late in imposing a travel ban.
CDC: Virus spreads in the U.S. in mid-January
Dr. Jay Butler, deputy director for infectious diseases at the CDC, confirms that there was no indication that the virus was introduced to America in earlier months than January.
This means that if someone felt sick back in November until December, it was probably due to flu-- and not Coronavirus at all. It was clarified since a lot of Americans ask about a possible transmission in late 2019.
"Based on just symptoms in January, it's almost certainly flu or another respiratory infection," said Trevor Bedford of Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, one of the authors.
So, are we late on imposing a travel ban?
The health agency reiterates that, although there was a late announcement of the travel ban in America, it would be unlikely to track the virus, especially back then. It even added the fact that only current studies were published saying there were cases of asymptomatic with the virus.
"It's important to recognize the travel bans were intended to slow the introduction of the virus," said Dr. Jay Butler. "We knew it would be fairly unlikely that it would be completely kept out of the United States."
