Gov. Newsom declares state of emergency due to coronavirus

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First California coronavirus death confirmed in Placer County

KCRA Staff, SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in connection with the coronavirus outbreak.

The declaration comes after a Placer County resident’s death was related to the virus, also known at COVID-19. The declaration was also prompted by a cruise ship that is being held off the coast of California because several passengers and crew members have exhibited coronavirus symptoms, Newsom said during a news conference Wednesday.

The Placer County patient who died was exposed to the coronavirus between Feb. 11 and Feb. 21 during international travel on a Princess cruise ship that departed from San Francisco to Mexico.

That cruise ship, called the Grand Princess, then went on to Hawaii, with many of the same passengers who were on the Mexico trip with the Placer County patient and the same crew, Newsom said.

The state is now holding the ship off the coast in order to test all the passengers. Newsom said coronavirus testing kits are being flown to the ship and administered with help from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

California now has 53 confirmed cases of coronavirus.