4 residents of Denton State Supported Living Center test positive for coronavirus

Four residents of the Denton State Supported Living Center have tested positive for the coronavirus, and the total number of cases in Denton County rose to 24, officials confirmed Saturday.

Three of the positive cases at the center are people in their 60s and one is a person in his or her 50s, Denton County Public Health said in a news release. State supported living centers are intended for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who could need help.

One of the four cases at the center was among six cases announced by Denton County on Friday, according to the release. The four individuals are all in isolation, officials said, and the county health department is working with the State Supported Living Center to identify potential contacts.

Any individuals who were exposed to the virus will hear directly from the county health department, officials said.

“Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our residents, the staff that work day in and day out to serve them and the local community that is such a strong supporter of the Denton State Supported Living Center,” Scott Schalchlin of Texas Health and Human Services said in the release.

There are 13 State Supported Living Centers across Texas housing individuals who could be medically fragile or have behavioral problems, according to the Health and Human Services website.

The agency suspended nonessential visitation and on-campus events at living centers on March 13.

This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 11:26 AM.