UPDATED: Breaking News – Hays County Reported Its First Presumptive Case Of COVID-19

March 14, 2020
0 1 minute read
  • Update March 14, 12:10 p.m.

According to Hays County, the patient has been released from the hospital and will self-quarantine at home until they are fever-free for 48 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.

Hays County Courthouse, San Marcos, TX (March 14, 2020) – Hays County officials today reported its first presumptive case of COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus.

The patient traveled to multiple cities along the West Coast of the United States and is believed to have been exposed while traveling. Upon arrival back to Central Texas, the patient notified the Hays County Local Health Department about their symptoms.

The patient was admitted to a local hospital and is currently recovering there. At no time did they expose any Hays County residents to this disease.

The Hays County Local Health Department is working with the Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to notify the passengers that were potentially exposed while on the plane with the patient.

“As this is a pandemic disease, we fully expected to see cases in Hays County and have been preparing for this situation,” County Judge Ruben Becerra said. “We have been working with local and state officials to ensure that protocols are established and followed and that we have access to additional resources should they be necessary.”

Hays County Epidemiologist reminded citizens that most persons who contract the disease will have low to moderate fever, a cough, and congestion, typically treated with over the counter medications as there is no specialized treatment for COVID-19 as there is with Influenza.

The majority of persons who contract this disease will not need to seek medical care. Residents with these symptoms should self-quarantine until they are fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications for 48 hours.

“Residents with underlying health conditions or a weakened immune system and persons over 65 tend to be hardest hit by COVID-19 and should consult their health care provider if they are experiencing symptoms, as should persons with high fevers or shortness of breath.

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Hays County
Reports First COVID
-
19 Case, Reminds
Residents to Maintain Health Practices
Hays County Courthouse, San Marcos, TX
(
March 1
4
, 2020
)
–
Hays
County
officials
today
reported
its
first
presumptive
case
of
COVID
-
19,
also
known
as
Coronavirus.
The
patient
traveled
to
multiple
cities
along
the
West
Coast
of
the
United
States
and
is
believed
to
have
been
exposed
while
traveling.
Upon
arrival
ba
ck
to
Central
Texas,
the
patient
notified
the
Hays
County
Local
Health
Department
about
their
symptoms.
The
patient
was
admitted
to
a
local
hospital
and
is
currently
recovering
there.
At
no
time
did
they
expose
any
Hays
County
residents
to
this
disease.
Th
e
Hays
County
Local
Health
Department
is
working
with
the
Department
of
State
Health
Services
and
the
Centers
for
Disease
Control
and
Prevention
to
notify
the
passengers
that
were
potentially
exposed
while
on
the
plane
with
the
patient.
“As
this
is
a
pande
mic
disease,
we
fully
expected
to
see
cases
in
Hays
County
and
have
been
preparing
for
this
situation,”
County
Judge
Ruben
Becerra
said.
“We
have
been
working
with
local
and
state
officials
to
ensure
that
protocols
are
established
and
followed,
and
that
we
have
access
to
additional
resources
should
they
be
necessary.”
Hays
County
Epidemiologist
reminded
citizens
that
most
persons
who
contract
the
disease
will
have
low
to
moderate
fever,
a
cough,
and
congestion,
typically
treated
with
over
the
counter
medications
as
there
is
no
specialized
treatment
for
COVID
-
19
as
there
is
with
Influenza.
The
majority
of
persons
who
contract
this
disease
will
not
need
to
seek
medical
care.
Residents
with
these
symptoms
should
self
-
quarantine
until
they
are
fever
-
free
without
the
use
of
fever
-
reducing
medications
for
48
hours.
“Residents
with
underlying
health
conditions
or
a
weakened
immune
system
and
persons
over
65
tend
to
be
hardest
hit
by
COVID
-
19
and
should
consult
their
health
care
provider
if
they
are
experienci
ng
symptoms,
as
should
persons
with
high
fevers
or
shortness
of
breath.
Hays County, Texas
https://hayscountytx.com/
Follow us at
www.twitter.com/hayscountygov
www.facebook.com/hayscountytexas
www.haysinformed.com
for Countywide Emergency Info
Information for the News Media
March 1
4
, 20
20
Good
hygiene
practices
are
essential:
Prevention Tips:
1.
Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds several times a day, including between
your fingers and underneath your n
ails. Handwashing is considered the best way to remove
germs and dirt, and hand sanitizers should be used only when handwashing is not available.
The hand sanitizers should be at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective.
2.
Avoid handshaking and high
-
fives
3.
A
void touching your face
–
especially your eyes, nose, and mouth
4.
Stay home when you feel sick
5.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue then put the tissue in the trash, or use the crook of
your elbow if a tissue isn’t available
6.
Clean and disinfect freque
ntly touched objects and surfaces using a regular household
disinfectant cleaning spray or wipe. Clean cell and desk phones, computer keyboards, door
handles, and work surfaces often.
7.
Face masks are not considered an effective way to prevent someone from c
atching a virus
unless you have close, frequent contact with a sick person; however, they are an option for sick
people to use to keep from spreading the virus.
8.
Avoid travel to areas that have been designated high
-
risk areas because of multiple verified
ca
ses of Corona
9.
Individuals are encouraged to avoid large gatherings. This includes, but is not limited to
concerts, plays, sporting events, gymnasiums, dances, and restaurants. Recreation activities
that can be practiced in private are encouraged. This virus spreads by p
erson
-
to
-
person
transmission just like the flu, so limiting human contact can help prevent COVID
-
19 from
spreading.
Judge Becerra reminded residents to rely on qualified information sources for additional
information
such as
the
Hays
County
website
, the
Texas
Department
of
State
Health
Services
, and from the
Centers
for
Disease
Control
which offers information in Spanish and
Chinese as well as Engli
sh.
###
Page 1 / 2
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March 14, 2020
0 1 minute read

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