Fifth person tests positive for coronavirus in Tarrant County, health officials say
A fifth person has tested positive for COVID-19 in Tarrant County, public health officials announced Monday.
The COVID-19 patient, a resident of Tarrant County, contracted the new coronavirus on an out-of-state trip, developed symptoms after returning home and later tested positive for the disease, according to a news release.
“This fifth case has been isolated at home after developing symptoms,” said Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja. “Because of HIPAA laws regarding the confidentiality of health information, we are not allowed to provide any specific details about this patient.”
COVID-19 causes respiratory illness with cough, fever, and shortness of breath, and may lead to bronchitis and severe pneumonia. The United States now has over 4,000 reported cases of COVID-19.
The Tarrant County cities with confirmed COVID-19 cases are Arlington, Benbrook and White Settlement with one each, and two have been identified in Southlake.
“We are releasing this additional information so that these communities and others across Tarrant County will be mindful of basic preventive measures to protect themselves from COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses,” Taneja said.
Protective measures include the following:
▪ Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
▪ Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
▪ Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
▪ Stay home when you are sick. If you experience difficulty breathing, or persistent fever, call your primary care provider.
▪ Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve.
▪ Frequently clean and disinfect touched objects and surfaces.
COVID-19 originated in Wuhan City, China in December 2019 and has now spread to more than 100 countries.
Visit coronavirus.tarrantcounty.com or call (817) 248-6299 during business hours for more information.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Fifth person tests positive for coronavirus in Tarrant County, health officials say."
