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03/07/2020

Coronavirus: Florida Reports First East Coast Deaths

New cases reported in D.C. and New York

To this point, the West Coast has borne the brunt of coronavirus in the U.S., with the bulk of confirmed cases so far reported in California and Washington state. But that's likely to change soon, with reports of cases now in Florida, New York and the Washington, D.C. area.

On Friday, health authorities in Florida said two COVID-19 patients in the state have died, in what are believed to be the first deaths linked to the disease on the East Coast. One of the patients lived in the district of Rep. Matt Gaetz, who drew criticism from colleagues earlier this week for "making light" of coronavirus when he wore a massive gas mask to a House floor vote on measures to combat the epidemic.

"Our prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time," the Republican congressman tweeted late Friday, adding: "I'm confident our community will continue to remain vigilant in combating this disease and pray there will be no further contractions of the virus in Northwest Florida."

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