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Single Cases Of Coronavirus Confirmed In Madera And Fresno Counties Following Cruise Ship Trips

Madera County Department of Public Health

Madera and Fresno County public health departments confirmed single cases of the coronavirus Saturday; both are isolated cases with a known source of transmission, officials said. 

A Madera County resident tested positive for the coronavirus following the resident’s return from a recent Princess Cruise trip, according to a statement from the Madera County Department of Public Health. 

The patient has been isolated and is in stable condition, according to the statement by Madera County Public Health Officer Dr. Simon Paul.

Dr. Paul said his department was asked by the California Department of Public Health on Thursday March 5 to monitor a husband and wife who had just returned from a cruise trip. Officials did not say where the couple was travelling. 

The couple remained isolated in their home but when one of them developed symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, the health department coordinated care with Madera Community Hospital. 

The couple went to the hospital and were met by staff at the car and led directly to an isolation room. The couple wore masks and did not enter public areas, Simon said. 

 “We wish the patient a quick return to health. The safety and well-being of our community remains our top priority. We ask community members to take the same precautions used in flu prevention: stay home when ill, wash hands frequently, covering coughs at all times, and practicing social distancing,” said Dr. Paul. 

This is an isolated case with a known source of transmission, he said. The couple received one visitor at their home prior to reporting symptoms. That individual is isolated and is being monitored but does not show symptoms of the disease at this time, officials said. 

Meanwhile, a Grand Princess Cruise passenger is the first person in Fresno County to test positive for the coronavirus, according to a statement from the Fresno County Department of Public Health.

Two travelers were tested at a local hospital March 6, after returning from a cruise. One test “has returned as a presumptive positive case,” the statement said. The individual, an older man, has not been hospitalized but is being monitored from home by health officials. At a press conference Sunday, officials said he was tested without leaving his car to minimize the risk of exposure. 

“He did have several household contacts, so we did ask them to stay home. They were all asymptomatic and we’ll be monitoring them as well with daily phone calls,” Rais Vohra, the department's interim health officer, said at the press conference Sunday. “The patient is already feeling better as of this morning.”

The health department said there is no immediate threat to the general public. It is not recommending cancellation of events, closure of schools, or buildings at this time.  Fresno County residents, students, workers, and visitors should continue to engage in their regular activities and practice good public health hygiene as this is the height of flu season, officials said.

 

Alice Daniel was News Director for KVPR from 2019-2022. Daniel has a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and more than 25 years of experience as a print and radio journalist.