First Presumptive Case Of Coronavirus Reported In South Jersey

SOUTH JERSEY — A South Jersey man has been hospitalized with new coronavirus, the first presumptive positive case of the disease reported in the region, officials announced Friday afternoon.

The Camden County man, who is in 60s, is in stable condition and in isolation, officials said. He is being treated at Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital, which is awaiting confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the hospital said Friday afternoon. He is being treated for upper respiratory infections and gastrointestinal illnesses, according to officials.

No other identifying information was provided. He has been hospitalized since Tuesday, officials said Friday night.

"The presumptive positive result came from a sample tested by the New Jersey Department of Health at the New Jersey Public Health Environmental Laboratories and is now being submitted to the CDC for confirmatory testing," Gov. Phil Murphy, Acting Gov. Sheila Oliver and Health Commissioner Judith Persichelli said in a joint statement. "State and local public health authorities are proceeding with the public health investigation and response activities as if this was a confirmed case and following all infectious disease protocols. Eleven Persons Under Investigation in New Jersey are currently pending testing in the state Public Health Environmental Labs."

"Jefferson providers are specially trained to handle a wide variety of infectious diseases, including this one, and are prepared to deliver safe, efficient and patient-friendly care to all who walk through our doors," the hospital said in a statement. "We are working with local and state partners on monitoring procedures for those who interacted with this patient."

Jefferson is also equipped with a robust telehealth network, JeffConnect, which Jefferson uses to treat and diagnose patients without needing to be in direct contact, further minimizing exposure risk to patients and providers, the hospital said.

The state is investigating his contacts and his whereabouts since he began showing symptoms, officials said during a press conference in Gloucester Township Friday evening.

Earlier in the day, officials held a conference call with about 45 school districts, but no specific district had been given advice on how to proceed as of Friday evening, officials said.

The Cherry Hill Public School District released the following statement Friday evening:

"We are aware of the presumptive positive case of Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Cherry Hill announced this afternoon by the Camden County Department of Health. We will be working closely with the Camden County Department of Health, the Camden County Superintendent's Office, and the New Jersey Department of Health in monitoring the situation throughout the weekend.

"We will notify families and staff of any effect on our schools through the usual channels of email, phone calls, web site postings and social media postings. We encourage anyone with questions to contact the district at [email protected] or [email protected]."

It's also the third presumptive positive case in New Jersey. Read more: More Details In 2nd Presumptive Positive Coronavirus Case In NJ

The Camden County Department of Health is coordinating with the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), the governor’s Office, and other state, local, and federal partners to ensure a comprehensive and appropriate response to the ongoing public health threat presented by coronavirus.

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“While we know that any case of coronavirus presents a cause for concern for our residents, we want to emphasize that this case only reemphasizes the need to follow personal hygiene guidelines vigilantly, this should not be a cause for panic and the risk to the general public remains low,” Camden County Health Officer Paschal Nwako said. “Our department has been planning and preparing for several weeks for the possibility of a case of coronavirus in Camden County, and residents can rest assured that we are prepared to act swiftly and protect the health of our community.”

The health departments are currently working to trace close contacts of this individual and to take additional public health actions as appropriate, authorities said.

“Given recent developments in surrounding areas, this does not come as a surprise to our personnel, and we have already put plans in place so that our response can begin immediately,” Camden County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services, said. “At this time, the most important thing for the public to recognize is that the general health risk to the public remains low. The best way to protect yourself is not to buy or wear facemasks, but to practice appropriate social distancing, avoiding contact with those who appear visibly ill, and to adhere to recommended personal hygiene practices.”

In Burlington County, 20 people have been sequestered due to possible exposure to coronavirus. Five of them remained quarantined as of Friday afternoon. Read more here: 20 Burlington County Residents Possibly Exposed To Coronavirus

Officials reminded residents the best way to prevent the spread of coronavirus is to practice good personal hygiene and follow these tips:

• Wash your hands thoroughly, and often, with soap and water for 20 seconds;
• Stay home when you’re sick;
• Avoid contact with others who are sick;
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue; and
• Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.

On Friday, officials provided more information about a woman in her 30s who is hospitalized at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center as travel restrictions were announced for state employees.

The individual, who has mild symptoms, had her specimen collected at Englewood Hospital and is isolating at home until the New Jersey Department of Health deems her medically cleared.

A Fort Lee man was diagnosed with the first presumptive case of the disease in the state. He remains hospitalized at Hackensack University Medical Center, officials said.

According to the state, he developed symptoms on March 1, got medical care on March 2 at an urgent care facility before going to the emergency room at Hackensack.

The patient had limited close contact with other New Jersey residents, officials said. Those who did have contact – which may have been mostly in New York City – have been asked to self-quarantine, officials also said.

"Since learning about the widespread novel coronavirus last month, my administration has been actively engaged in implementing precautionary measures, as well as a comprehensive preparedness and rapid response plan to contain the spread of COVID-19 in New Jersey," Gov. Phil Murphy said.

The New Jersey Department of Health has partnered with the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System to open and operate a call center (1-800-222-1222) for public use regarding questions, concerns, and other information related to coronavirus spread in New Jersey. More information is also available on the state’s coronavirus webpage.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.