First U.S. Coronavirus Death; Iranian Coronavirus Deaths Way Higher Than Government Admits; 3 New Cases of Unknown Origin In U.S.; Pandemic Preppers Arm Up, ‘Person With The Most Ammo Wins’

By KIRO 7. The Washington Department of Health confirmed Saturday the first coronavirus-related death in the United States, a King County man in his 50s.

The man who later died arrived at EvergreenHealth Medical Center in Kirkland with “serious respiratory issues” and later tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus), King County Public Health said. Officials said the man also had underlying health conditions, although they declined to say what the conditions were, citing patient privacy.

“It is a sad day in our state as we learn that a Washingtonian has died from COVID-19,” Gov. Jay Inslee said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to their family and friends. We will continue to work toward a day where no one dies from this virus.”

The man had no history of travel or contact with a known coronavirus case, meaning the case was acquired through “community transmission” in the Seattle area, said Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, health officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. (Read more about first coronavirus deaths HERE)

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Iranian Coronavirus Deaths Far Higher than Official Number

By Breitbart. BBC Persian cites Iranian health sources who claim that at least 210 people may have died from the coronavirus in Iran. If true, that is significantly higher than the official death toll of 34.

Health sources in Iran told reporters with BBC Persian that at least 210 patients in that country died from the Covid-19 coronavirus. The Iranian government denies the number and claims that only 34 have died. Either way, it is the largest number of coronavirus deaths in any country outside of China.

Iranian Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur rejected that report and stood by the official death reports placing the number of decedents at 34, Reuters reported on Friday.

However, Iranian Member of Parliament Gholamali Jafarzadeh Imenabadi contradicted the government’s statement and claimed the real death toll in Iran is “much higher” than the official death toll, Alarabiya reports.

“I say this explicitly, the statistics presented so far are not true,” he said. The MP added that he has statistics from cemeteries about the death toll that reveal “horrific numbers.” (Read more from “Coronavirus Deaths May Be Much Higher Than Iranian Government Admitted” HERE)

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New Coronavirus Cases in California and Oregon Are Second and Third of Unknown Origin

By CNN. An older adult woman from California is the second case of unknown origin of the novel coronavirus, health officials in Santa Clara County said Friday.

The patient didn’t have any relevant travel history or exposure to another known patient, said Dr. Sara Cody, director of the county’s public health department. . .

Another case in Oregon reported Friday is thought to be from community transmission but health officials there said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needs to confirm the state’s positive test result.

The person is from Washington County and is being treated at a Kaiser Permanente hospital. (Read more from “New Coronavirus Cases in California and Oregon Are Second and Third of Unknown Origin” HERE)

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Pandemic Preppers Arm Up, ‘Person With The Most Ammo Wins’

By Washington Examiner. Some Washington big shots like others around the country are readying for the potential further outbreak of the coronavirus by stocking up on “prepper” goods, including pistols, rifles, and ammunition, and reaching out to camps where they can hide out.

“We’ve had a huge surge in interest from the virus,” said Drew Miller, who runs the Fortitude Ranch camp in West Virginia. Miller said his “survival community” in Colorado has filled up, and he is close to selling out memberships in West Virginia as concerns about the virus increase.

Stores that sell freeze-dried food and bullets have also seen a surge in sales.

Justin Anderson, the marketing director for Hyatt Guns in Charlotte, North Carolina, one of the nation’s largest, said ammunition is the top seller. “I’ve seen a notable spike in the purchase of bulk ammo, which is usually a barometer of people’s fear in these types of situations,” he said, adding, “The person with the most ammo wins.” . . .

“We have always been prepared for a pandemic,” he told us, explaining that his camps keep families apart so an infection won’t spread but are behind a wall for defense. “Lots of spread out buildings and shallow shelters (we have NO deep underground shelters) lets our members grab weapons and get to their assigned defensive position on the outer wall in a minute,” he said. (Read more from “Pandemic Preppers Arm Up, ‘Person With The Most Ammo Wins'” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE