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Concerns over the coronavirus, officially named COVID-19, are growing in the St. Louis area.

5 On Your Side is focusing on giving you facts and not spreading fear. We’ve gathered up the latest information you need to know about the virus in the St. Louis area in this one story, which we’ll continue to update as new information comes in.

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If you have questions or concerns about the coronavirus, you can text us at 314-444-5125. We will work to get answers for you.

And follow our latest coronavirus coverage at KSDK.com/coronavirus and on the 5 On Your Side app.

READ MORE: St. Louis' top coronavirus questions answered

Cases in Missouri: 

No one in Missouri has tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.

At this time, health officials throughout Missouri are monitoring people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus or traveled to places that put them at risk of exposure.

Last Friday, health officials in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County confirmed there are 20 people who are under medical surveillance for the virus.

"We're taking all the proper precautions keeping those folks segregated from others or quarantined so to speak," explained St. Louis County Executive Sam Page.

State health officials have sent several potential cases to the federal Centers for Disease Control. Late last week, the Missouri health department got approval to run those tests in its own health lab, which will speed up the results.

St. Louis County launched a new website, stlcorona.com, to provide updates and information on coronavirus in the area. On the site, there is information about the symptoms of the disease, prevention tips, treatment and county resources. There is also a new hotline that connects people to the county health department: 314-615-2660.

Missouri lawmakers created the Special Committee on Disease Control and Prevention in response to the coronavirus. Their goal is to keep tabs on what the state is doing to fight any possible outbreak and to help keep Missourians updated on what’s going on.

READ MORE: Facts Not Fear | What you need to know about the COVID-19 outbreak

Cases in Illinois: 

Five people in Illinois have tested positive for COVID-19. All of the cases are in Cook County, which includes Chicago. Two of the patients have recovered from the virus, while the other three still have it.

The fourth patient is the wife of the third patient. The woman is in her 70s and is quarantined at home. She’s reported to be in good condition.

The fifth person is a man in his 20s.

There was a patient at Memorial Hospital in Belleville who was tested for the coronavirus. However, BJC HealthCare officials confirmed the patient tested negative.

Cases in the U.S.: 

There are 157 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., according to an interactive map provided by the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

Eleven people have died from the virus as of Wednesday afternoon, one in California and 10 in Washington state. Nine of the deaths in Washington were in King County, which includes Seattle, and one death was in Snohomish County.

The first death outside Washington state was in California. Officials said the patient, who has not been identified by name or gender, was probably exposed to coronavirus while on a cruise from San Francisco to Mexico sometime between Feb. 11 to Feb. 21. 

As of Wednesday, 13 states reported having cases of COVID-19, according to the CDC. Late Wednesday, New Jersey's governor confirmed that state's first case. New Jersey health officials have sent the case off to the CDC for official confirmation.

Other states with confirmed or presumptive positive cases are North Carolina, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Wisconsin, Illinois, Florida, New Hampshire, New York, Georgia, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

California and Washington state have the most reported cases, each reaching double digits as of Wednesday. California's governor declared a statewide emergency Wednesday due to the threat of the new coronavirus, becoming the third U.S. state to do so. Washington and Florida are the other two. 

About half of the cases of people infected with the virus in America involve people returning to the U.S. from Wuhan, China, or from the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship that was quarantined in Japan. The other cases are either travel-related or represent a case of person-to-person spread in the U.S.

Leaders in Congress and the Senate have come to an agreement on a bipartisan deal that would put around $8 billion of emergency funding towards fighting the coronavirus in the U.S.

The deal was confirmed to NBC News and the Washington Post Wednesday and would first need to pass the House and Senate before being put on the president's desk for a signature.  

Cases around the world: 

About 90,000 people around the world have been sickened by the virus, according to the latest update from the World Health Organization, and more than 3,200 deaths have been reported.

The vast majority of cases are in Mainland China, according to the interactive map from Hopkins, followed by South Korea, Iran and Italy. These are the only countries as of Wednesday that have cases into the thousands.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, said there’s still time to stop the surging spread of COVID-19, saying “containment is feasible and must remain the top priority for all countries.”

In a news briefing Monday, Ghebreyesus said the outbreaks in South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan were now the agency’s “greatest concern.”

He described the new coronavirus as a “unique” virus capable of community transmission but that unlike flu, it could be contained with the right measures.

Frequently asked questions:

What is a coronavirus?

According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

According to the CDC, patients diagnosed with this coronavirus experience a mild to severe respiratory illness. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Patients with severe complications from the virus often develop pneumonia in both lungs.

RELATED: VERIFY: Fact-checking this week's viral coronavirus claims

How does the virus spread?

The virus is spread person-to-person. According to the CDC, spread is happening mainly between people who are in close contact (within 6 feet) of each other via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The droplets land on the noses and mouths of other people, who then inhale them.

The CDC says it may be possible for the virus to spread by touching a surface or object with the virus and then a person touching their mouth, nose or eyes, but this is not thought to be the main method of spread. As the virus was discovered just a few months ago, more research is required to learn more about the spread pattern of the virus.

How do I protect myself and others?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 or medication to directly treat COVID-19. Therefore, the best way to protect yourself is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. The CDC recommends maintaining personal preventative actions such as:

  • Avoiding close contact with those who are sick
  • Not touching your eyes, mouth or nose, especially with unwashed hands
  • Washing your hands often with soap and warm water for last least 20 seconds
  • Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched
  • Stay home if you are sick
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue

There also is no need for members of the general public to wear surgical masks to guard against coronavirus. Individuals should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it.

Is there a cure for the virus?

There is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19. Once infected, there is not an antiviral treatment available for COVID-19. People should take care to avoid being exposed to the virus and seek medical care to relieve symptoms if infected with the virus.

The Associated Press and Suzanne Nuyen with TEGNA contributed to this report.

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