Seattle, Mar 1 (AFP/APP): The first fatality from the novel coronavirus has been confirmed on US soil, as President Donald Trump on Saturday urged Americans not to panic. Health officials said the man who died in Washington state was one of a handful with no known links to global hot zones to have contracted the virus — indicating that the pathogen was now likely spreading in communities. The death occurred in King County, the most populous in the state and home to Seattle, a city of more than 700,000 people, officials told AFP. The victim was in his 50s and had “underlying health conditions,” said Jeff Duchin, public health officer for Seattle and King County. “It is a sad day in our state as we learn that a Washingtonian has died from COVID-19,” Washington state Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement, sending condolences to the victim’s loved ones. Inslee declared a state of emergency over coronavirus, freeing up funding for state agencies and allowing the use of the Washington National Guard, if necessary. Speaking at a White House news conference Trump said that “additional cases in the United States are likely,” but added that “healthy individuals should be able … Continue reading First coronavirus death on US soil confirmed, Trump calls for calm