Lincoln County Public Health announced a 10th confirmed COVID-19 case Thursday evening, the county’s first case involving a young person between the ages of 10 and 19.
The person is not hospitalized and is self-isolating, the county said.
The agency said it is investigating the case, contacting anyone who was near the person in the last 14 days.
The person tested positive for COVID-19 but has not had contact with someone confirmed to have the virus, so is being considered “community acquired,” the agency said in a news release.
Oregon Health Authority has also begun reporting “presumptive positive” cases — people with COVID-19 symptoms, were in close contact with a confirmed positive case, but had not received their test results.
Wednesday’s announced presumptive positive case in Lincoln County ended up with a negative test result so was removed Thursday from the county’s total. The current totals for Lincoln County are: 10 confirmed positive, 1,403 negative tests, eight recovered, and one hospitalized during illness.
On Thursday the Oregon Health Authority said there were 49 new confirmed and presumptive cases, bringing the statewide total to 4,086. Another three people died from COVID-19, raising the total to 151.
Lincoln County has one of the lowest rates of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state at 0.7 percent.
“With graduation parties, backyard barbecues and other family outings planned, we need to remember that the best way to prevent the spread is to physically distance, protect others and keep clean,” Nicole Fields, deputy director of the county’s Public Health agency, said in the news release. “We all want to be with our friends and families, but we also need to protect them. When we are unable to be at least 6 feet apart, it is important to wear a face covering, if possible, to protect the ones around you.
“Even though we are in Phase 1 reopening and the stores, restaurants and hotels are reopening, it doesn’t mean the virus has left,” she said. “Now it is more important than ever to do our part to keep Lincoln County open.”
Fields said Gov. Kate Brown’s executive orders and guidance for the public are still in place, even though all but one county in Oregon has entered Phase 1 reopening.
“We don’t know what Phase 2 may look like, or if we will be able to enter Phase 2 on June 4, which is the earliest we could apply,” said agency spokeswoman Susan Trachsel.
For the best chance at preventing the spread of the coronavirus and to give the county the best opportunity to enter Phase 2 reopening, Public Health said it is strongly encouraging that people follow state guidelines, that say:
- Stay home if you are sick;
- Avoid exposure to COVID-19. People who are at risk for severe complications (over age 60 or have underlying medical conditions) should stay home even if they feel well.
- If people become symptomatic (cough, fever, shortness of breath) while in public, return home, self-isolate and call your doctor.
- Practice good hygiene with frequent hand washing for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer.
- Cover coughs/sneezes with elbow or tissue. If you use a tissue, immediately discard the tissue in garbage and your wash hands.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Practice physical distancing of at least six feet between you and people who you do not live with.
- Use a face covering in public. As restrictions are lifted on businesses and public spaces, it may be difficult to ensure that you can stay six feet away from others at all times, so wear a mask.
- Stay close to home. Avoid overnight trips and minimize other non-essential travel, including recreational day trips to destinations outside the community where you live. Travel the minimum distance needed to obtain essential services.
Other Lincoln County cases are:
- A person in their 40s who did not have contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19. The person is self-isolating.
- A person in their 60s who had contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19 and is isolating themselves.
- A person in their 60s who did not have any known contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19.
- A person in their 80s who tested positive before an outpatient procedure.
- A person in their 60s who also acquired the coronavirus in the community.
- A person in their 30s who had no known contact with a confirmed case.
- A person over 80 who had contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
- A person in their 20s who had contact with someone outside the county confirmed to have the coronavirus and then tested positive.
- A Lincoln County resident who contracted COVID-19 while out of the county and was treated outside the county.