coronavirus

San Diegans React to 1st Coronavirus Case From Unknown Origin

A woman in northern California has tested positive for the coronavirus but never left the country and did not have contact with anyone who traveled outside the country

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A new case of novel coronavirus in Northern California, suspected to be the first known incident of person-to-person transmission, is adding to the anxiety some San Diegans already are feeling.

"'Where did it come from?' and 'where is it going to go?'" asked Carrie Woodworth, from Encinitas. "With subways, and trains, and airplanes...it is a bit alarming."

'Where did it come from?' and 'where is it going to go?'

Carrie Woodworth, Encinitas resident

Geo Berumen, visiting San Diego from Oregon, worries about what the spread of the virus could do to the economy. He also wonders what would happen if he was forced into isolation. How long his food supply would last? Would his job be impacted?

"It's pretty scary to think what happened in China could happen here," he said. "Just everything, it's a scary thought."

For some, the case in northern California brought up the fear of the unknown, but for others, the case was not so close to home.

"I don't know how far it is from here, but if it were like my neighbor, I would be more scared, I think," said Dennis Beqeraj, a student from Belgium studying in San Diego for six months.

NBC7s Rory Devine spoke with some San Diegans who are worried and others who arent

Carlsbad resident Diana Rogers said she is not too worried.

"I think sometimes the media spins it a little bit out of control and it can get blown out of proportion," Rogers said.

She said the people most greatly affected are those whose immune systems are compromised.

Lakeside resident Jason Haskins said the case in northern California does not increase his concerns.

"No, not really. It would concern me if it was put on a graph, and like you do with the weather, and you see all the red, but at this point, I'm not concerned," Haskins said.

At the San Diego Airport, where crowds of people from all over the world gather in lines and at their gates, people seemed to be a bit more alarmed.

"Is it in the air? Should we be wearing masks? Are we going to die from it or is it just a regular flu virus?" one flyer wondered.

Surveying customers, but there were a noticeable number of people wearing masks at the airport.

"It's scary because you don't know if you are going to get it or how you are going to get it, but I don't want to live in fear and not do stuff just because of that," traveler Kelsey Munoz said.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends only those who are exhibiting symptoms wear a mask to avoid spreading the illness.

The CDC also recommends avoiding close contact with others who are sick, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

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