UPDATED: 5:40 p.m.
TRENTON, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey officials are investigating a second presumptive case of coronavirus.
We now have our second presumptive case of coronavirus in New Jersey.Watch live as @NJDeptofHealth Commissioner Persichilli and I provide an update on #COVID19 and our preparedness efforts:https://t.co/3qjgivgghs
— Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver (@LtGovOliver) March 5, 2020Acting Gov. Sheila Oliver — who is filling in for Phil Murphy while he recovers from surgery — made the announcement Thursday afternoon.
Both presumptive cases involve people from North Jersey.
State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli told reporters at an Ewing briefing, "When I say presumptive I mean the sample was tested in our state labs in West Trenton and is being submitted to the CDC for confirmatory testing."
Both patients are hospitalized.
On Wednesday, officials announced the first presumptive positive case of a man in his 30s, who has been hospitalized in Bergen County since March 3. He is also being investigated by the CDC.
Neither case, however, has been confirmed at this point as an actual case of novel coronavirus.
Eleven residents have tested negative and eight others are being looked at as possible patients. More testing kits are arriving in the state and they'll be used not just by the lone lab the health department operates, but by independent labs once they're certified to do the testing, which should come in short order.
Acting Gov. Sheila Oliver announced the curtailment of travel for state workers on official business.
"All international travel is suspended for our state workforce until further notice and previously approved international travel by our state employees is cancelled," Oliver added. "All domestic, out of state travel on state related business must be approved by the governor's office including same day travel."
That also includes short trips to New York, Philadelphia or Washington.
The attorney general is also warning retailers against price gouging or selling items they claim can help against the virus, but don't.
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