First ‘person-to-person’ coronavirus case reported in Tulare County, fifth patient overall
A fifth case of the contagious coronavirus was announced in Tulare County on Wednesday – the first in that county to be described as “person-to-person” spread.
A fourth, travel-related case was announced Tuesday night.
“The fifth patient belongs to a vulnerable population, over 65 years of age, and is considered person-to-person spread through direct contact,” wrote the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency in a news release. “The public health branch has begun their investigation, and no new contacts have been identified.”
The fourth patient was identified as an adult between the age of 18 and 25 who was traveling in Europe. That person came home and self-quarantined, health officials said.
“Once the individual began to experience symptoms, they received a test, which the Tulare County Public Health Lab found to be positive,” officials said. “The patient is well enough to continue to self-quarantine at home. Two contacts have been identified and have been instructed to self-quarantine.”
Tulare County health officials said Wednesday afternoon that California now has 598 confirmed cases of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
Coronavirus COVID-19 information
Tulare County health officials said they continue “to urge individuals to monitor your health closely” and if ill, “please stay home.”
They provided the following additional information:
▪ If you are a member of a vulnerable population, please stay home as much as possible.
▪ If you are a person who has traveled outside the county or country, call 211 to find about the potential need to self-quarantine.
▪ Call 211 if you have the symptoms of COVID-19, such as: Fever, cough, inability to take in a deep breath, other lower respiratory symptoms.
▪ Community members with urgent questions about, or symptoms of COVID-19 in Tulare County, can call 211 to be connected to the information and resource hotline.
▪ If you are a member of our senior population, over 65 years of age, and you need assistance with questions and resources, please contact K/T AAA at 800-321-2462 or online at ktaaa.org.
▪ Although testing for COVID-19 is occurring at the Tulare County Public Health Lab, all results are only available through the testing physician.
▪ More information about COVID-19 is available at tchhsa.org/ncov, facebook.com/TulareCountyHHSA/, and cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 4:48 PM.
