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COVID Community Transmission Washington County Oregon


niman

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That's the press conference. In summary: - A Washington County resident has tested positive for #covid19usa - The CDC has not yet confirmed the positive test result - The person was hospitalized at Kaiser Permanente in Hillsboro (1/2)
 
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- The #COVID19USA patient recently spent time at Forest Hills Elementary School in Lake Oswego - The person is not known to have travel to a country experiencing widespread #coronavirus outbreak - Oregon officials are treating this as a case of "community spread" (2/2)
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Dr. Jennifer Vines says the patient has no known travel to a country where #COVID19 has become widespread, so public health officials are operating on the assumption that the #coronavirus was contracted somewhere and somehow in the community here in Oregon.
 
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Dr. Vines says officials are working to construct a timeline of where the #COVID19USA patient in Oregon was during the "most infectious" period. The patient is a resident of Washington County, although officials aren't saying where they live.
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State officials announce first presumptive case of coronavirus in Oregon

  • Updated 
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State officials announce first presumptive case of coronavirus in Oregon

KPTV file image

 
 

PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) - State officials announced Friday night that someone living in Oregon has the state’s first presumptive case of the coronavirus.

A press conference took place at 6 p.m. Friday in Portland. Gov. Kate Brown spoke, along with the director of the Oregon Health Authority.

OHA reports the person is from Washington County and has been isolated while receiving care at Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro.

 

The person did not recently travel to a country where the virus is circulating and the person is also not believed to have had close contact with another confirmed case, the two most common sources of exposure. 

This is considered a “community-transmitted” case and investigators are working to determine the origin. The symptoms began Feb. 19 for this person. 

The case is considered presumptive until the CDC confirms a positive test result.

Dr. Jennifer Vines, the lead health officer for Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, said this person has spent time at Forest Hills Elementary School in Lake Oswego. The Lake Oswego School District confirmed the person is an employee at that school. 

The OHA said this person may have exposed students and staff.

The Lake Oswego School District is planning to close the school to allow for deep cleaning. Public health officials will complete their investigation, including contacting employees at the school and family of children to inform them of their possible exposure and let them know next steps.

State agencies, hospitals and school district have spent the week discussing preparations for possible cases of coronavirus in Oregon.

 

The OHA has been getting daily updates from the Centers for Disease Control about Oregon residents returning from China. Local agencies have then been contacting those travelers within 72 hours, and they are interviewed and monitored for symptoms.

Patrick Allen, director of the OHA, reminded people that while coronavirus is getting a lot of attention right now, most people who get it only have minor symptoms and recover without serious issues.

RELATED: 

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown earlier Friday announced the formation of a Coronavirus Response Team.

The Coronavirus Response Team includes agency directors or their representatives from:

  • Department of Administrative Services
  • Oregon Health Authority
  • Department of Human Services
  • Oregon State Police
  • Oregon Department of Transportation
  • Office of Emergency Management
  • Oregon Military Department
  • Oregon Department of Education
  • Department of Corrections
  • Oregon Youth Authority
  • Secretary of State
  • Oregon State Treasurer

For more information, go to http://healthoregon.org/coronavirus

https://www.kptv.com/news/state-officials-announce-first-presumptive-case-of-coronavirus-in-oregon/article_6ac26688-5a93-11ea-a0af-d346d4e06ef0.html

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Oregon announces first, presumptive case of novel coronavirus

February 28, 2020

Health officials continue investigating as they urge good hand hygiene, covering coughs, staying home if sick

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority has confirmed Oregon’s first, presumptive case of novel coronavirus, COVID-19, public health officials announced today.

The case, an adult resident of Washington County, experienced symptoms of COVID-19 beginning Feb. 19, and a sample was collected from the individual today. The sample was sent to the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory in Hillsboro, which used the new COVID-19 test kit it received Wednesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The lab tested the sample today—only hours after it validated the new CDC test kit.

“Our first concern is for this individual, to make sure they’re being cared for and is able to recover,” said OHA Director Patrick Allen. “Our next priority is finding out who this individual had contact with and make sure they know about their risks, and to let them know how they can get care if they need it. We said this was a fast-moving situation, and that has proved to be true.”

The case was not a person under monitoring or a person under investigation. The individual had neither a history of travel to a country where the virus was circulating, nor is believed to have had a close contact with another confirmed case—the two most common sources of exposure. As such, public health officials are considering it a likely community-transmitted case, meaning that the origin of the infection is unknown.

“We are awaiting confirmation of the test results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but at this time we are considering this a presumptive case,” said Dean Sidelinger, MD, MSed. “The person in now appropriate isolation and appropriate care.”

The individual spent time in a school in the Lake Oswego school district and may have exposed students and staff there. Public health officials will investigate potential exposures there and contact employees and families of children to let them know next steps.

The individual has been isolated and is being cared for at Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro.

OHA epidemiologists are working closely with public health investigators at Washington County Department of Health and Human Services to identify close contacts of the case.

OHA officials continue to recommend people in Oregon take everyday precautions to prevent the spread of many respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and influenza:

  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched.
  • Take care of your health overall. Staying current on your vaccinations, including flu vaccine, eating well and exercising all help your body stay resilient.
  • Consult CDC’s travel website for any travel advisories and steps to protect yourself if you plan to travel outside of the US.

 

For more information:

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Media Statement

For Immediate Release
Friday, Feb. 28, 2020

Contact: CDC Media Relations
(404) 639-3286 

CDC Announces Additional COVID-19 Presumptive Positive Cases

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is aware of four new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 announced by state public health authorities who are currently conducting investigations.

  • California has announced a second possible instance of community spread.
  • Oregon has announced its first possible instance of community spread.
  • The state of Washington has announced two presumptive cases. One is likely travel related. The other is the state’s first possible instance of community spread. 

Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown. One previous possible instance of community spread was announced in California on February 26.

The four patients tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 in their respective states using the CDC-developed rRT-PCR. They are considered presumptive positive cases pending CDC confirmatory testing. However, CDC and State and local public health authorities are proceeding with public health investigations and response activities as if these were confirmed cases. 

With both confirmed and presumptive positive cases, CDC recommends healthcare providers follow the Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) or Persons Under Investigation for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings.

These four cases bring the total number of COVID-19 cases detected through the U.S. public health system to 19.

The federal government has been working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat. Unprecedented, aggressive efforts have been taken to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of this virus. CDC and federal partners have been preparing for the detection of additional instances of person-to-person spread of COVID-19 for weeks. The federal government will continue to respond aggressively to this rapidly evolving situation.

For more information about COVID-19 visit www.cdc.gov/covid19.

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