Updated March 31st, 2020 at 23:03 IST
Pompeo: State Dept. official has died from virus
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says a State Department official has died from the coronavirus, the first American fatality among the U.S. diplomatic corps from the pandemic.
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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says a State Department official has died from the coronavirus, the first American fatality among the U.S. diplomatic corps from the pandemic.
Pompeo didn't give details about the official who passed away or where the person contracted the disease. He says about four to five dozen State Department employees had tested positive for the virus, including locally employed staffers at a handful of the 220 U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
On Monday, State Department health officials said at least two locally employed staff members had died from the virus.
Those officials say they were tracking 105 confirmed cases among the agency's global workforce of about 75,000. Of those, 75 are overseas and 30 are at State Department offices in the United States in nine cities.
Pompeo also praised the State Department for its work in repatriating American citizens stranded abroad during the coronavirus outbreak.
The secretary said as of today, the department has repatriated over 26,000 to 27,000 U.S. citizens from more than 50 countries.
Pompeo urged all American citizens who remain abroad to do so "immediately and make arrangements to accomplish that."
"We remain steadfast and committed to getting you all back," he said,
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.
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Published March 31st, 2020 at 23:03 IST