Miami Valley Hospital doctor: U.S. coronavirus death is not cause for increased concern

DAYTON — Dr. Roberto Colon, the associate chief medical officer at Miami Valley Hospital said the first U.S. death due to coronavirus should not cause additional concern about the sickness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Saturday, a patient in Washington State who tested positive for coronavirus died. The patient was a man in his 50s.

“Unfortunately, as the disease progressed, it unfortunately took his life,” Colon said.

However he cautioned against increased concern.

“I don't think that that this makes this any more worrisome than it was before. I think it's probably going to get people's attention because it may seem a little more real,” Colon said Saturday.

He said the virus has about a two percent mortality rate across the globe, but said there is a significant variability among age groups.

According to Colon, the mortality rate is higher for older patients and patients who have other health complications, compared to younger patients with no medical history.

He said the best way to stay safe from the sickness is to practice proper hand hygiene, by washing your hands and using hand sanitizer. He also suggested people avoid touching areas that have a lot of public contact, like hand rails.

“I can't stress this enough; there is no reason right now for the general public to go out and buy masks, and walk around wearing masks when they're going into common areas,” Colon said.

He thinks influenza is still a much larger threat to people in the U.S.

“I do still believe that the influenza right now is a much bigger threat as a country for us than coronavirus.”