Coronavirus spreads across California as officials fight to contain disease and fears
LOS ANGELES - The novel coronavirus continued its spread across California and the nation on Friday, with new cases reported from Los Angeles to Placer County, while cruise passengers stuck off the coast of San Francisco were tested amid what appears to be an outbreak on board.
At least eight of California's cases have been tied to the cruise, including one confirmed death in Placer County and one suspected death in Sunnyvale.
Speaking at the White House Friday afternoon, Vice President Mike Pence said a total of 21 people on the Grand Princess have tested positive for coronavirus, including 19 crew members.
He said the federal government is working with the state of California to bring the cruise ship in to a non-commercial port over the weekend and to quarantine passengers as necessary.
"All passengers will be tested," the vice president said. "Those that need to be quarantined will be quarantined."
Pence said 24 people on the cruise ship had tested negative, and one test has been inconclusive.
Meanwhile, L.A. County confirmed two additional cases of the new coronavirus Friday, bringing the total to 13.
That comes as more cases of the virus continue to be reported elsewhere in California and in other states, including Texas, prompting the city of Austin to cancel the massively popular SXSW festival.
Of the most recent cases announced in L.A. County, one person is part of a group of travelers who went to northern Italy. Seven other members of that same group had already have tested positive for COVID-19.
The second is a second screener at
