BURLINGTON COUNTY ANNOUNCES THE FIRST TWO PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE

CASES OF CORONAVIRUS

• Mt. Holly, NJ – Today the Burlington County Health Department (BCHD) announced the county’s first two presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus).  The residents are a 62-year-old male and a 60-year-old female (husband and wife) with a history of travel to Italy.  They are currently isolated at home with mild illness since Wednesday, March 4, 2020.   The male first became ill on March 4, 2020 and was seen by a healthcare provider that same day.  The Health Department was notified of Presumptive Positive results for both individuals from the New Jersey Department of Health’s Public Environmental Health Laboratory today, March 10, 2020, and is awaiting confirmatory results from the CDC.  BCHD is working closely with these individuals to identify any potential close contacts and provide guidance for evaluation and testing as appropriate.

Burlington County Preparation and Response to COVID-19

• BCHD has been actively monitoring the COVID-19 situation since it emerged in early January.
• The Health Department continues to work with all of its local partners on existing plans and control measures to prepare for the possibility of community spread in Burlington County.
• BCHD is working with hospitals, first responders, school administrators and other partners regarding their needs and protocols to ensure we are focused on limiting the spread of disease and are prepared for eventual cases.
• Coronavirus information is posted on the Health Department web-page, and members of the public can call the NJDOH COVID-19 Hotline at – 1-800-222-1222.  The hotline is open 24/7 and can answer questions in multiple languages.

Prevention

• Residents can protect themselves and their families by practicing good respiratory hygiene, much as they should during flu season.  These include:
  • Washing your hands often, using hot water and soap for at least 20 seconds
  • Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose or mouth.
  • Stay home from school or work if sick (must be fever-free without medication for 24 hours)
  • Maintain a distance of 6 feet from people with respiratory symptoms
  • Clean and sanitize commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, countertops, faucets and cellphones
• Residents over the age of 60, especially those with existing medical conditions that include heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, should reconsider going to large gatherings such as worship services, movies, malls, sporting events, etc. and using mass transportation
• Follow the CDC’s travel recommendations regarding travel to countries with sustained transmission.  Current travel recommendations can be found at:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
• Defer cruise ship travel at this time.

Residents with concerns about their health should contact their primary care provider.  Additional information is available at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/1845/2019-Novel-Coronavirus-Information or by calling the NJDOH Hotline at 1-800-222-1222 or 1-800-962-1253 if using a non-NJ cellphone.

###