A Hoke County resident has tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus, Hoke County Health Department Director Helene Edwards said Wednesday morning. This is the first case of COVID-19 health officials have discovered in the county.
The patient was notified of their positive test result on March 18. The patient came into the FirstHealth of the Carolinas Primary Care clinic at Moore Regional Hospital’s Hoke campus March 16 experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus, according to the statement from the Hoke County Health Department and FirstHealth of the Carolinas.
“FirstHealth office staff and providers in the clinic followed the recommended safety protocols, including the use of personal protective equipment while screening and testing the patient. The patient was given self-quarantine instructions following their test and remains isolated at home. FirstHealth and the Hoke County Health Department are coordinating to monitor the patient’s condition and conduct contact tracing,” Edwards said in a press release Wednesday morning. “To protect patient privacy, no further information about this person will be shared.”
“Presumptive positive” means the person has been tested by a laboratory and the test was found positive for coronavirus. “Confirmed positive” means the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laboratory confirmed the test result.
FirstHealth and the Hoke County Health Department urge all residents to take measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus:
Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at a time.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Do not reuse tissue after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched.
For more information about the coronavirus and to read the latest guidance on keeping yourself and others safe, visit the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites.