Two additional COVID-19 cases reported for Dare County

Published 9:10 pm Saturday, April 4, 2020

: This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

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On Saturday afternoon, April 4, in two separate announcements, the Dare County Division of Public Health reported the fourth and fifth positive test results for COVID-19 in Dare County.

The report for the fourth case stated the individual is a resident who was tested in Dare County.

“The individual is currently receiving care at a hospital outside of Dare County,” according to Dr. Sheila Davies, director of the Dare County Department of Health & Human Services.

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It is unknown at this time how this individual acquired the virus. Public health staff is conducting an active investigation into this individual’s activity and anyone who is determined to have had direct contact will be notified by public health staff.

The statement issued regarding the fifth case referenced the Tuesday, March 31, Bulletin #22 which announced the county’s second positive test result and reported that this individual’s spouse had also been tested. Those results were received Saturday by Dare County Division of Public Health and it was confirmed that the spouse tested positive for COVID-19.

This is not a case of community spread and the spouses were tested two days apart, according to the press release. Contact tracing of direct contacts associated with both spouses was conducted by public health staff last week. Both spouses have remained in isolation and are reported to be improving daily.

To date, the Dare County Department of Health & Human Services has reported a total of five positive test results. Two have completely recovered, two are spouses who remain in isolation and are improving daily and one individual is receiving care at a hospital outside of Dare County.

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