Currituck County has its first case of coronavirus, health officials said Sunday.
The person is in isolation and health officials will be contract tracing “all individuals who may have had close contact with the case,” Albemarle Health Services said in a news release.
Close contacts are defined as having direct contact with, or been within six feet for at least 10 minutes, of a case-patient while not wearing recommended personal protective equipment. Caregivers and household members of the case-patient are considered close contacts.
Health official did not identify where in the county the case originated or how the patient contracted COVID-19, whether travel, close contact or community spread.
Confirmed coronavirus cases in North Carolina climbed to 1,040 on Sunday, with four deaths and 91 patients hospitalized. Health officials report that 18,945 tests have been completed.
Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday issued a stay-at-home order for North Carolina to help stop the spread, and Dare and Currituck counties are not allowing tourists and non-resident property owners onto the Outer Banks.
“ARHS is continuing to ask our community citizens to be vigilant in practicing preventive and safety measures that will help prevent the spread of the virus,” the release said.
Precautions to avoid coronavirus include:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household
cleaning spray or wipe. - Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going
to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty. - Practice social distancing; stay at least six feet away from others, avoid unnecessary travel, avoid handshakes, hugs and other close contact.
To slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the number of people infected, communities should be following the guidance set by local, state, and federal officials to reduce frequency of contact and increase physical distance between persons, thereby reducing the risks of person-to-person transmission.
This story originally appeared on OBXToday.com. Read More local stories here.
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