The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement saying that the Coronavirus already spread in America in mid-January. It turns out that the government was 13 days late in imposing a travel ban. 

CDC: Virus spreads in the U.S. in mid-January

Were there any possible ways for the government back then to stop the virus from entering the country? Apparently not. 

Dr. Robert Redfield, the head of the U.S. CDC, said that the virus started back in the country back days before the government imposed a travel ban. During a three-week period starting at mid-January to early February, the coronavirus had already infected several Americans. 

"As America begins to reopen, looking back at how COVID-19 made its way to the United States will contribute to a better understanding to prepare for the future," said him. "Information from these diverse data sources suggests that limited community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States occurred between the latter half of January and the beginning of February, following the importation of SARS-CoV-2 from China."

The agency had successfully tracked the beginning of virus transmission through "syndromic surveillance of emergency department records, tests of respiratory specimens, and analyses of the virus's genetic sequences from early cases."

The three separate cases in California confirmed the first assumption that the virus was detected in early February. 

No virus in November until December

Dr. Jay Butler, deputy director for infectious diseases at the CDC, confirms that there was no indication that the virus was introduced to America in earlier months than January. 

This means that if someone felt sick back in November until December, it was probably due to flu-- and not Coronavirus at all. It was clarified since a lot of Americans ask about a possible transmission in late 2019. 

"Based on just symptoms in January, it's almost certainly flu or another respiratory infection," said Trevor Bedford of Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, one of the authors. 

So, are we late on imposing a travel ban?

The health agency reiterates that, although there was a late announcement of the travel ban in America, it would be unlikely to track the virus, especially back then. It even added the fact that only current studies were published saying there were cases of asymptomatic with the virus. 

"It's important to recognize the travel bans were intended to slow the introduction of the virus," said Dr. Jay Butler. "We knew it would be fairly unlikely that it would be completely kept out of the United States." 

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