Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., center, talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, as she heads to a closed, all-senators briefing on the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Washington (People’s Daily) - Capitol Hill leaders said health authorities are expected to confirm a third coronavirus case in the US, following a closed-door briefing between lawmakers in Washington and federal health officials.

US Senators John Barrasso of Wyoming and Josh Hawley of Missouri said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) informed them of the latest coronavirus case at the briefing. 

“We are expecting more cases in the US, and we are likely going to see some cases among close contacts of travelers and human-to-human transmission,” said Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

Earlier Friday, CDC officials said a second coronavirus case had been reported in Illinois and expected more to emerge as it is monitoring over 60 people for potential coronavirus infections.

CDC officials also said they are working on distributing virus tests to other states so health and medical staff can quickly identify cases. Currently, samples must be sent to the CDC for analysis.