Category: Covid-19

FOX 2 - The state of Michigan has announcedeight additional positivecases of COVID-19 Saturday night.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said eight adults tested presumptive positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This brings the state total of COVID-19 cases to 33.The specimens will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation testing.The cases include:

Here is alist of the positive 33 cases across Michigan right now:

COVID-19 symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus.They include:

These symptoms, of course, are similar to the common cold and flu.

Expect a common cold to start out with a sore or scratchy throat, cough, runny and/or stuffy nose. Flu symptoms are more intense and usually come on suddenly, and can include a high fever.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear more slowly. They usually include fever, a dry cough and noticeable shortness of breath, according to the World Health Organization. A minority of cases develop pneumonia, and the disease is especially worrisome for the elderly and those with other medical problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes or heart conditions.

New developments Saturday:

Right now there's one big difference between flu and coronavirus: A vaccine exists to help prevent the flu and it's not too late to get it. It won't protect you from catching the coronavirus but may put you in a better position to fight it.

RELATED: Is it the flu, a cold or COVID-19? Different viruses present similar symptoms

To protect yourself, wash your hands well and often, keep them away from your face, and avoid crowds and standing close to people.

And if you do find yourself showing any of these flu or coronavirus symptoms - don't go straight to your doctor's office. That just risks making more people sick, officials urge. Call ahead, and ask if you need to be seen and where.

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8 more positive cases of COVID-19 brings Michigan total to 33 - FOX 2 Detroit

As governments fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Snopes is fighting an infodemic of rumors and misinformation, and you can help. Tell us about any questionable, confusing, or concerning rumors and advice you encounter.

As the COVID-19 new coronavirus disease spread across the United States in early 2020, so did anxiety, as people looked to how the virus had affected Italy, already deep in the throes of the pandemic. A social media meme exacerbated the anxiety with the claim that Italian doctors had decided NOT to treat the elderly, and that that was the result of socialized medicine.

As of mid-March, Italy was the hardest-hit nation outside of Asia and had become the new epicenter for the global pandemic. As in China, where the virus was initially detected in the winter of 2019, the Italian health care system was overwhelmed by the disease. Amid fears that the United States could end up in a similar situation, a viral Facebook meme pointed the finger at Italys government-run health care system.The meme appears to represent both an exaggeration and distortion of news reports and events in Italy regarding the coronavirus. Readers also inquired about an article published by the British news publication The Telegraph, headlined, Italians over 80 will be left to die as country overwhelmed by coronavirus. The article references a document drawn up by health officials in Turin, a city in Northern Italy hit hard by the virus, with guidelines for if and when It becomes impossible to provide all patients with intensive care service. In such a case, the document says, It will be necessary to apply criteria for access to intensive treatment, which depends on the limited resources available.

The Telegraph reported that the document produced by the civil protection department of the Piedmont region, one of those hardest hit, says: The criteria for access to intensive therapy in cases of emergency must include age of less than 80 or a score on the Charlson comorbidity Index [which indicates how many other medical conditions the patient has] of less than 5.'

The guidelines were expected to affect the whole country and go into effect, according to the Telegraph, If the situation becomes of such an exceptional nature as to make the therapeutic choices on the individual case dependent on the availability of resources, forcing [hospitals] to focus on those cases in which the cost/benefit ratio is more favorable for clinical treatment.'

In other words, it is not true that Italy as a whole had decided not to treat their elderly for the coronavirus. What is true per news reports is that overwhelmed Italian health systems that have more patients than available equipment could face catastrophe triage decisions not seen since World War II. That has nothing to do the fact that Italy, like other European countries, has a public health care system, or what some people call socialized medicine. It is instead the result of the sheer volume of cases flooding the hospitals.

As of March 12, 2020, The New York Times reported that Italian officials had maintained that everyone who needed care was entitled to it. In a public statement on the matter, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte stated, We live in a system in which we guarantee health and the right of everyone to be cured. Its a foundation, a pillar, and Id say a characteristic of our system of civilization. And thus we cant allow ourselves to let our guard down.

The Times also reported that Flavia Petrini, president of the Italian College of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care, had issued catastrophe medicine guidelines:

In a context of grave shortage of health resources, the guidelines say, intensive care should be given to patients with the best chance of success and those with the best hope of life should be prioritized.

The guidelines also say that in in the interests of maximizing benefits for the largest number, limits could be put on intensive care units to reserve scarce resources to those who have, first, greater likelihood of survival and secondly who have more potential years of life.

No one is getting kicked out, but were offering criteria of priority, Dr. Petrini said. These choices are made in normal times, but whats not normal is when you have to assist 600 people all at once.

Giulio Gallera, the Lombardy official leading the emergency response, said on Thursday that he hoped the guidelines never needed to be applied.

In sum, Italy did not announce it would abandon elderly patients with COVID-19 wholesale. Instead, health care workers in various circumstances and locales might be forced to ration treatment and make judgments based on who is expected to live longest, if treated. Chinese doctors have faced this situation, and some fear it may be in store for the U.S. health care system if the number of active coronavirus cases in the United States isnt successfully controlled. We therefore rate this claim a Mixture of true and false.

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Has Italy Stopped Treating the Elderly in the COVID-19 Pandemic? - Snopes.com

If you think you may have the coronavirus and want to get tested, figuring out where to go can be confusing and challenging. The availability of coronavirus tests in the United States is changing rapidly and depends on where you live. NBC News reached out to all 50 state health departments for information on how they are handling testing and what recommendations they have for people seeking tests.

The general advice is the same nationwide: Call ahead to your doctor or a health care facility if you are concerned you may need to be tested. Based on your symptoms and exposure, they will decide if you need to be evaluated in person and may confer with state authorities about where and how to do the testing. They will give you instructions on how to arrive in a way that limits exposure. Medical facilities and doctors offices ask that everyone call ahead so they can make arrangements to protect others when people come in for testing.

All states now have a public health lab testing for coronavirus, and an increasing number of commercial and academic labs are testing as well. Results times vary and health departments may not know how long they may take for tests performed in private labs.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

Some state health departments have hotlines the public can call for more information, and all have websites that are being frequently updated. For specific details about your state, find it on the drop-down menu below. NBC News will continue to update this list as we receive responses from more states.

For information about testing nationwide, see the CDC's website, which is updated daily.

Call your health care provider if you are symptomatic to discuss whether you should be evaluated in person and considered for testing.Any provider can order a test if a patient meets the state's criteria, which include:

Test results from the State Hygienic Lab should be available in approximately 24 hours. Private lab results times may vary. For more coronavirus information, call Iowa's 211 system or visit the Iowa Department of Public Health's website.

Call your primary care physician if you are concerned and showing symptoms. If you do not have a primary care physician, contact the Louisiana 211 Network by dialing 2-1-1 to be connected to the nearest community clinic. The Louisiana Department of Health recommends testing for any patient with fever, respiratory symptoms and a negative flu test. Testing is not recommended for asymptomatic patients. Any physician can order testing based on their clinical judgement. Testing is being conducted by the state public health laboratory and some commercial labs. The state lab tests samples of high-priority patients, which include:

State lab results are typically available within the same day. Results times may vary at commercial labs. For more information, contact the Louisiana 211 Network by dialing 211 or by texting LACOVID to 898-211, or visit the Louisiana Department of Health's coronavirus website.

Let our news meet your inbox. The news and stories that matters, delivered weekday mornings.

If you believe you have symptoms, call your health care provider or local health district to discuss whether you should be evaluated in person and considered for testing.If you do not have a primary health care provider, call your local health district. They will be able to walk through symptoms with you and determine the next steps if you need to be tested. To decide whether you need testing, providers evaluates a combination of symptoms and risk factors, which include:

At this time, asymptomatic people are not being tested. Testing is available from the Ohio Department of Health State lab, some private labs and several hospitals.Results from the state lab, private labs and some hospitals are generally available in 24 to 48 hours. For more coronavirus information, visit the Ohio Department of Health's website or call their COVID-19 call center at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.

Adiel Kaplan is a reporter with the NBC News Investigative Unit.

Peter Georgiev is an intern with the NBC News Investigative Unit.

Merritt Enright

Merritt Enright is a researcher with the NBC News Investigative Unit.

Cameron Oakes is an intern with the NBC News Investigative Unit.

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Coronavirus testing: Information on COVID-19 tests according to state health departments - NBCNews.com

MADISON (WKOW) -- The Wisconsin Department of Health Services today announced new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is now seeing community spread of the new coronavirus according to Dr. Ryan Westergaard,chief medical officer of the Bureau of Communicable Diseases.

Community spread of disease is when the virus can no longer be traced to a travel history or exposure to someone known to be infected.

The number of people confirmed to have the coronavirus rose to 46, said Andrea Palm, secretary-designee of the Department of Health Services.

Over 500 people have tested negative. And one person, from Dane County, has already recovered.

(Our entire coronavirus coverage is available here.)

Gov. Tony Evers banned all gatherings of 50 or more people in the state beginning at midnight. The order exempts drug and grocery stores among certain other locations.

"Keeping folks safe and healthy has to be our first priority," said Evers.

There is not enough capacity for testing everyone yet, said Westergaard. For the time being, it can only be done for those showing symptoms.

The new strain of coronavirus causes the disease COVID-19. Symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath.

In severe cases, pneumonia can develop. Those most at risk include the elderly, people with heart or lung disease as well as anyone at greater risk of infection.

For most, the virus is mild, presenting similarly to a common cold or the flu.

Anyone who thinks they may have the disease should call ahead to a hospital or clinic before going in for a diagnosis. Doing so gives the staff time to take the proper precautions so the virus does not spread.

Those needing emergency medical services should continue to use 911.

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New confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin - WKOW

The National Guard is on standby as the state prepares for additional measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.

At this point the governor and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency say all options are on the table including putting certain communities under quarantine. But that would be the worst case scenario.

The Hawaii National Guard was activated during the Kilauea Volcano eruption on the Big Island. Those troops are now standing by because their help will be necessary for more preventative measures against COVID-19.

We need to move and act at the pace of an unprecedented crisis we need to make assumptions that we got widespread community spread of the virus, COVID virus, said Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

The governor appointed Hara as incident commander to lead the effort for new procedures. He says there are planners now putting together measures such as more testing at airports and harbors. There are no plans yet to force restaurants and bars to close, but it is possible further down the line.

So we got these planners working 24-7 now to come up with a comprehensive plan from worst case if we do need to quarantine certain neighborhoods or the best case, just try to monitor or mitigate the spread hoping theres no huge cluster, said Hara.

State officials also made a plea for residents to stop hoarding. And warned that if it continues, police or even the National Guard might step in to put a stop to it.

This supplemental proclamation specifically addresses hoarding and we do know that we can take action if we do believe that it is getting out of hand, said Gov. David Ige.

When you go to those shelves theyre all empty, so please, lets keep this aloha spirit alive, said Hara.

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Hawaii National Guard ready to step in against spread of COVID-19 - KHON2

Alberta orders all classes cancelled, daycares closed as COVID-19 cases rise to 56 in the province  Global News

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Alberta orders all classes cancelled, daycares closed as COVID-19 cases rise to 56 in the province - Global News

BELTON, Texas (Bell Co. Health Dist.) - A second presumptive positive case of COVID 19 has been identified in Bell County.

The county has the only presumptive cases of the virus in Central Texas.

Bell County Public Health District identified the second presumptive case late Sunday night.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still must confirm the results.

The individual is a 70-year-old man living in the Belton area with a travel history to Europe.

The Bell County Public Health District initiated what it described as a "self-isolation protocol and contact tracing for this case."

Bell County is currently in Stage 2 of its COVID 19 Action Plan, which is being amended Monday to recommend that all gatherings of 50 or more people be canceled or postponed.

This action is being taken in accordance with guidance from both the CDC and the Bell County Public Health District, said Bell County Judge David Blackburn.

I urge event organizers to heed the recommendation and cancel or postpone events scheduled within the next eight weeks.

The initial Bell County COVID 19 Action Plan, released on March 12, 2020, did not include recommendations about the size of gatherings.

The county announced its first presumptive case on Friday.

The 29-year-old Belton man, who works at Laerdal Medical in Gatesville, visited Barcelona, Spain and Paris between March 4 and March 10.

Coryell County Judge Roger Miller issued a disaster declaration as a result of case.

Miller said six people in Copperas Cove were "exhibiting signs of illness."

They are all Laerdal employees.

On Monday Coryell County officials said two of the six tested positive for something other than the new coronavirus and results of tests performed on a third person were pending.

Information about the status of the other three wasn't available Monday.

A City of Woodway Public Safety Department employee asked to be allowed to self-quarantine because the employee's roommate was in contact with the Belton man although neither the employee nor the roommate was showing any signs of the virus.

The city said it made accommodations for the employee to work from home for 14 days as a precaution, and is monitoring that employees health on a daily basis during that time.

Woodways priority is and always will be the health and safety of our residents and our employees, Woodway Mayor Bob Howard said.

That employees prompt action is indicative of the type of people we have working for our city, taking a proactive stance to protect others, Howard said.

Bell County COVID19 Action Plan

Stage 1 (no confirmed cases of COVID19) Stay home if you are sick Avoid contact with persons who are sick Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw the tissue away Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces with a disinfectant Dont travel to areas with active community spread of COVID19 Wash your hands with soap and water regularly and use hand sanitizers with at least 60% of alcohol content when soap and water are not available

Stage 2 (a confirmed case of COVID19) All of Stage 1 measures Actively practice social distancing whenever possible maintain 6 feet distance from other persons Avoid physical contact with other persons in social and workplace settings Recommend all gatherings of 50 or more persons be canceled or postponed

Stage 3 (community spread of COVID19) All Stage 1 & Stage 2 measures Bell County &/or BCPHD may issue orders restricting and/or prohibiting mass gatherings and/or movement of people

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2nd presumptive case of COVID 19 reported in Bell County - KWTX

GEAUGA COUNTY, Ohio Health officials in Geauga County have reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19, according to a release from Geauga Public Health.

Geauga Public Health strongly urges all residents to adhere to the governors order and expand upon them voluntarily where possible.

Health officials said while the number of cases continue to rise sharply in Ohio, Geauga Public Health said it can assume three things with great confidence:

First, models suggest there are more people in Geauga County who are already infected and contagious but who are experiencing such mild symptoms that they have not sought medical care and have not been tested. Planning is currently underway to increase access to testing.

Second, the number of confirmed cases will increase moving forward. We are on the front end of this public health threat and should expect our routines to change significantly in the months to come.

Third, because there is no vaccine, the only strategies we have at hand to address the pandemic depend on everyone changing their normal behaviors such as practicing social distancing. These strategies are most effective when they are applied preemptively

Below you can find information and resources on novel coronavirus, COVID-19, from local, state, national and international organizations, including the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the Ohio Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization.

News 5 will continue to update this section with new information, resources, links, and more as it is made available.

COVID-19/2019 Novel Coronavirus Overview from the CDC:

What is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

Can people in the U.S. get COVID-19? Yes. COVID-19 is spreading from person to person in parts of the United States. Risk of infection with COVID-19 is higher for people who are close contacts of someone known to have COVID-19, for example healthcare workers, or household members. Other people at higher risk for infection are those who live in or have recently been in an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. Learn more about places with ongoing spread here.

Have there been cases of COVID-19 in the U.S.? Yes. The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 21, 2020. The current count of cases of COVID-19 in the United States is available on CDCs webpage here.

How does COVID-19 spread? The virus that causes COVID-19 probably emerged from an animal source, but is now spreading from person to person. The virus is thought to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It also may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses here.

Download and read the CDC's full "What you need to know about coronavirus disease (COVID-19)" information sheet here.

Global case numbers are reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in their coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation report.

News 5

Coronavirus in Ohio:

As of Saturday, March 13, there were 26 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ohio 11 are in Cuyahoga County, 3 in Stark County, 2 in Belmont County, 4 in Butler County, 2 in Summit County, 1 in Franklin County and 2 in Trumbull County. A total of 264 persons were under investigation for the disease. See the Coronavirus information page on the Ohio Department of Health's website for the latest numbers of confirmed cases and persons under investigation.

According to the governor, two of the confirmed cases are from a married couple that went on a cruise on the Nile River. The third Cuyahoga County case is from a person that went to the AIPAC conference in Washington D.C. According to a cantor from the Jewish Temple in Beachwood, 160 people from Cleveland attended the conference. The three patients are between 54 and 56-years-old, according to officials. Read more on those cases here.

On Wednesday, health officials announced a fourth case in Ohio - a man in his mid-50s in Stark County. This case is the first example in the state of "community spread," meaning the man had not traveled out of the country, and had no known contact with an international traveler. Read more on that case here.

The fifth case, announced Thursday, was in a 55-year-old Trumbull County man.

On Wednesday, DeWine announced some measures to stem the spread of coronavirus: limiting visits to nursing homes and holding sporting events without spectators.

On Thursday, DeWine took the state's response to the next level with two orders representing major, wide-ranging steps to stop the spread of the disease: an order prohibiting "mass gatherings" of over 100 people, with exceptions, and an order to close all Ohio K-12 schools for three weeks beginning at the end of the school day on Monday, March 16.

During that news conference, ODH Director Amy Acton also revealed that their department believes that at least 100,000 Ohioans are currently carrying the disease, a claim that has made national headlines.

On Friday, DeWine announced several new steps the state is taking to prevent the spread of coronavirus and provide relief to Ohio's residents, including an order stopping visitations at county jails, providing free breakfasts and lunches to Ohio's K-12 students, and a request to the Trump administration for regulatory and other relief as necessary.

Coronavirus' Impacts in Northeast Ohio:

Since the announcement of confirmed cases in Ohio, a number of local events, schools, facilities and more have announced closures, cancellations, postponements and changes as a result of coronavirus. News 5 is working to keep this information updated in the links below:

Here's a list of things in Northeast Ohio closed due to coronavirus concerns

Multiple Ohio colleges suspend in-person classes due to coronavirus concerns

The City of Cleveland has canceled its St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Cleveland International Film Festival, and issued a civil emergency in response to COVID-19.

News 5's Coronavirus continuing coverage page

Worldwide Coronavirus Tracker from Johns Hopkins University

EPA releases list of approved disinfectants to use against COVID-19

How to protect yourself from coronavirus when flyingCuyahoga County Medical Director answers your questions about coronavirusThink you may have the coronavirus? Heres what to do

A state of emergency was issued in Ohio following 3 positive COVID-19 cases. Here's what it means.The symptoms of coronavirus are fever and lower respiratory tract issues, such as cough and shortness of breath, according to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.Cuyahoga County Medical Director answers your questions about coronavirus

The symptoms of coronavirus are fever and lower respiratory tract issues, such as cough and shortness of breath, according to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.

CDC

Anyone traveling internationally should review plans in advance of their trip, and check the CDCs COVID-19 Travel Information Page for daily updates and travel alerts.

Click here for the CDC COVID-19 Travel Information Page

CDC

Anyone traveling internationally should review plans in advance of their trip, and check the CDCs COVID-19 Travel Information Page for daily updates and travel alerts.The CCBH recommends the following good hygiene practices to prevent coronavirus, as well as the flu, colds and other illnesses:Click here for the CDC COVID-19 Travel Information PageSneeze or cough into the bend of your elbow to keep germs from spreadingRegularly wash your hands with soap and water/use alcohol-based hand sanitizer in betweenDont share cups, spoons, forks, etc. with anyoneDont make food for anyone if you are sickDont go to work or school if you are sickVisit a doctor, urgent care or emergency department if you are sick dont take chancesRegularly wash your hands with soap and water/use alcohol-based hand sanitizer in betweenPlease contact your medical provider with any questions.Dont make food for anyone if you are sickDont go to work or school if you are sickVisit a doctor, urgent care or emergency department if you are sick dont take chances

Please contact your medical provider with any questions.Click here for specific guidance from the CCBH for anyone at higher risk for becoming ill.

Click here for specific guidance from the CCBH for anyone at higher risk for becoming ill.

Cuyahoga County: See the CCBH page on coronavirus here.

Cuyahoga County: See the CCBH page on coronavirus here.Ohio Department of Health:

It is updated daily at 2 p.m. with the current number of confirmed cases, persons under investigation and persons under investigation who tested negative for the disease.Ohio Department of Health: More resources from ODH:Click here for the Ohio Department of Healths Coronavirus information page.Fact sheetPrevention infographic Resources and informationMore resources from ODH:

Fact sheetPrevention infographic Ohio Secretary of State:

Ohio Secretary of State:Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCorona Facts: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has launched a web page dedicated to providing facts about coronavirus' impacts on voting and the Primary Election in Ohio. The CCBH has created this list of coronavirus-related resources from the CDC:

Homepage for COVID-19 materials and informationCenters for Disease Control and PreventionFact sheet ChineseFact sheet EnglishFact sheet SpanishHomepage for COVID-19 materials and informationGuidance for businessesGuidance for colleges and universitiesGuidance for communities and mass gatheringsGuidance for healthcare facilitiesGuidance for healthcare professionalsGuidance for people with elevated risk for illnessGuidance for pregnant womenGuidance for risk assessmentGuidance for schoolsGuidance for travelersGuidance for people with elevated risk for illnessWhat you can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 ChineseWhat you can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 EnglishWhat you can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 SpanishGuidance for travelersIf you are sick with COVID-19 ChineseIf you are sick with COVID-19 EnglishIf you are sick with COVID-19 SpanishWhat you can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 SpanishPreventing spread of COVID-19 at election/polling/voting locationsPrevention and treatmentSymptoms overviewIf you are sick with COVID-19 Spanish

Preventing spread of COVID-19 at election/polling/voting locationsPrevention and treatmentWorld Health Organization

Mythbusters the truth about food, packages, pets and other things related to COVID-19

Video What is COVID-19?Video What is my risk of getting COVID-19?Video How can I protect myself from COVID-19?Mythbusters the truth about food, packages, pets and other things related to COVID-19

Video What is COVID-19?Video What is my risk of getting COVID-19?Video How can I protect myself from COVID-19?

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Coronavirus First positive case of COVID-19 confirmed in Geauga County Kaylyn Hlavaty 7:58 AM - News 5 Cleveland

EAGLE COUNTY With a new week dawning and Eagle County residents hunkering down to meet the local COVID-19 scenario, Eagle County Public Safety is stressing there has been a change in response focus.

With community-level transmission, the testing and screening guidance is shifting.

Now that we have rapidly identified the arrival of COVID-19 in our community, our focus is to slow the spread of the virus, protect our medical infrastructure, and protect the most vulnerable people in our community, said Eagle County Director of Communications Kris Widlak. Testing all patients with mild symptoms of COVID-19 is no longer recommended. A key priority is to shift our testing to people that are at greatest risk for severe disease, complications, and death.

With limited testing resources, Eagle County is prioritizing testing for high-risk patients only, said Rebecca Larson, Eagle County Disease Prevention and Control manager. This means that the number of lab-confirmed tests may not reflect the true spread of the COVID-19 virus in our county. To help us track the virus spread, we need the communitys help. If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms that could be related to the COVID-19 virus, including headache, fever, cough, or other respiratory symptoms, please fill out our survey.

You can fill out a symptoms report form here.

Vail Health on Monday also outlined new protocols to further protect hospital staff and patients from COVID-19 exposure. The following operational changes apply to Vail Health Hospital and throughout the communitys health care system.

Our top priority in this ever-changing scenario continues to be protecting our staff and patients, said Amanda Veit, Vail Health Chief Operating Officer. We want to continue providing essential care and emergency care to meet the needs of our community, and that requires us to continually evaluate and adjust based on the situation.

Vail Health is encouraging all patients with respiratory issues and employees entering either Vail Health Hospital, Colorado Mountain Medical, or Shaw Cancer Center to wear surgical masks.

In addition, Vail Health Hospital is further reducing its visitor policy. No visitors will be allowed into Vail Health Hospital. Patients should plan ahead to be dropped off without anyone coming into the facility with them. Screening for COVID-19 symptoms will continue for anyone entering the facility.

The following operational shifts are in effect within the Vail Health system:

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Sunday issued a statement askingresidents and visitors to Eagle County, and three other mountain communities, to minimize their contact with other people in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Anyone who has been in Eagle, Summit, Pitkin or Gunnison counties in the past week should minimize all contact with other people, whether or not they are experiencing symptoms, the statement said.

Eagle County now has 25 presumed positive cases of COVID-19, the second-most among Colorado counties. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says all presumptive positive cases are now considered positive. CDC is no longer performing confirmatory testing.

Were seeing extensive outbreaks in these communities, Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the state epidemiologist, said in a written statement. We are asking people to take this voluntary action to slow the spread of the disease in Colorado and keep people safe. If we do this now, our hope is that we can slow down the spread of this virus and lessen the potential stress on our health care systems and workers.

One of the reasons Eagle County may have so many confirmed cases is because it has done so many tests. According to Vail Health, it has sent more than 400 samples to the state lab, with more than 200 results still pending.

Sally Welsh, Vail Healths director of public relations, wrote in a text that Vail Healths assessment is that Eagle County has submitted more samples, per capita, than any county in the state.

Vail Health has begun to send tests to private commercial labs as well, given that turnaround times on tests to the state lab have slowed considerably as more tests arrive.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, cough, or shortness of breath.

Those who are experiencing symptoms but are not getting tested are asked to self-report symptoms at https://bit.ly/39XFRne.Widlak urged residents to self-report because the information will provide local officials with data about community spread.

The following patients with COVID-19 symptoms are considered at the highest priority for testing:

Any other patients can be tested per health care provider judgment.

Widlak stressed that if someone suspects he or she has contracted COVID-19, with or without a test to confirm those suspicions, the treatment and recommendations are the same.

There isnt a vaccine and there isnt a cure, she said. Stay home if you are sick and stay hydrated.

Read more here:

Eagle County outlines shift for COVID-19 testing, Vail Health shifts operations - Vail Daily News

HONOLULU (KHON2) Another presumptive positive case for the coronavirus has been announced, bringing up the state total to seven cases on March 15.

A total of about 80 test results received from Clinical Labs of Hawaii on March 14 are being reviewed by the Department of Health. Three of the test results were positive and the rest of the test results were negative. Some of the negative reports were duplicated and required additional review.

According to Governor David Ige, the seventh case is an Oahu resident who returned from a trip to Florida with the entire family on March 8. The next day, the patient reported having a cough and was then tested on March 10. That person is self-isolating from the rest of the family and is staying in a bedroom with a dedicated bathroom. Other family members have been advised to remain at home, quarantined and isolated away from the sick family member.

The sixth case announced on March 14 is located on Maui. County officials said the result came back positive for one Person Under Investigation on Maui.

The patient is a female flight attendant on Air Canada who is a visitor to Maui island. State officials say that they believe she is a citizen of Canada. The woman reportedly stayed at the Royal Lahaina Resort on Maui and began to show symptoms on March 9. Her last flight was reportedly on March 8.

We believe that the risk to any passengers on the previous flight is low, Ige said.

State officials said that a specimen was collected on March 11. It was reported that the woman was exposed to a confirmed case in Germany on March 4. Because of the notification of exposure and the symptoms she began to show, the woman self-isolated herself at the Royal Lahaina Resort Hotel after she received a positive test result.

She was later moved by the AMR to a Lahaina clinic. Officials emphasized that she is no longer at the resort and that she is currently in isolation monitored by the State Health Department.

Prior to this announcement around 6:40 p.m. on March 14, Honolulu officials announced the fifth positive case. According to Ige on March 15, the patient is an Oahu resident who traveled to Colorado between February 29 through March 7. That patient reportedly started showing symptoms on March 9 and was tested on March 11.

Officials say that the family members of that patient were advised to stay at home and self-quarantine. A child in the home later started exhibiting respiratory symptoms and was tested by the Department of Health. That test sample came back negative for COVID-19. The childs preschool was notified that a relative in the home tested positive.

There is no risk for the children at the preschool of the staff, Ige said. The child will not be returning to the preschool until after the quarantine period is completed.

Hawaiis first confirmed case is an adult male who had been on the Grand Princess and is currently in mild to moderate condition. The second case announced is an elderly adult of Oahu who had traveled from Washington State, fell ill, and traveled back to Hawaii. The patient is currently in serious condition.

On March 13, two more cases were announced by Kauai officials. According to the State, a visiting couple from the mainland arrived on Maui on March 2 and stayed at a hotel in Lahaina. On March 8, the couple then traveled to Kauai on Hawaiian Airlines flight 149 and reportedly stayed at the Kauai Marriot Resort, which is located in Lihue.

You can watch the full press conference that was held on March 15 below:

Updates will be shared as information becomes available to us.

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7th positive COVID-19 case announced in Hawaii, all cases related to travel - KHON2