Brunswick County identified two more presumptive positive cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Saturday, bringing the total number of identified cases to six.
Brunswick County considers and responds to presumptive positive cases as if they were positive, even while awaiting official confirmation of results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Both cases are separate, travel-related and neither individual was symptomatic on their return to the area. Both cases are isolated at home and are doing well. There is one household contact who is quarantined. None of these individuals have direct contact with children in Brunswick County.
Brunswick County Health and Human Services team members will monitor the individuals during their self-isolation/quarantine. Contact investigation is already complete as neither individual traveled while symptomatic. The County is also in contact with the NC DHHS to ensure proper steps are taken moving forward.
To protect individual privacy, no further information will be released.
The County’s Public Health team also continues to monitor the other individuals who have presumptive positive cases and any individuals in self-quarantine on a regular basis and all are doing well at this time.
Brunswick County will provide updates on any presumptive positive cases considered a low risk for community spread in its daily update unless a serious public health concern requires a separate release.
All residents and visitors are urged to practice social distancing and to remain at home as much as possible to reduce the potential for community spread of the novel coronavirus.
FRIDAY
Brunswick County has identified its third and fourth presumptive positive case of COVID-19. Both individuals represent isolated travel cases and are self-isolating and doing well at home.
County officials say the third case individual was not symptomatic when returning on Friday, March 13 from New York. The individual later became symptomatic and reported symptoms to a medical provider Sunday, Mar. 15.
The fourth case individual was tested Friday, Mar. 13 in Tennessee while traveling. They returned to the area Sunday, Mar. 15 and they are currently self-isolating.
Brunswick County Health and Human Services team members will monitor the individuals during their self-isolation/quarantine and contact investigation has already been completed.
County officials continue to stress the importance that all residents and visitors remain inside to reduce the potential for community spread.
“Governor Roy Cooper and the NC Department of Health and Human Services have already confirmed that there is evidence of community spread in North Carolina, so it is imperative that we all follow and continue protective measures like social distancing immediately,” Health and Human Services Director David Stanley says.
“Our actions can have an impact on how far the virus spreads and can better protect the most vulnerable members of our communities, including those over 65 years old, with weakened immune systems, with underlying health conditions, and pregnant mothers.”
161 COVID-19 tests are pending in Brunswick County.
