Texas Confirms 1st Travel-Related Coronavirus Case

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported the 1st positive test result for COVID-19 disease in Texas, outside of the passengers returned from China or the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

This patient is a resident of Fort Bend County, which is located west of Houston, who recently returned from travel abroad and is currently isolated in the hospital, announced Texas DSHS on March 4, 2020.

A travel-related case doesn’t indicate spread within Texas, but DSHS, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and all state agencies continue their ongoing preparations so that all of state government is working together to limit the spread of the virus and protect Texans.

Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner said in a media statement, “This travel-related case reinforces the fact that we should all be taking basic hygiene steps that are extremely effective in limiting limit the spread of COVID-19 disease and all respiratory illnesses.”

The coronavirus diagnostic test was performed at the public health lab in Houston and will be confirmed by testing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

DSHS is supporting Fort Bend County in identifying any close contacts of the patient while he was sick so they can be isolated and monitored for symptoms and quickly tested if needed.

DSHS and other state agencies in Texas have been preparing for laboratory testing, public health investigation, isolation and care for people who test positive.

“Over the past month, the state of Texas has been preparing for this moment, and we are confident in the steps we have taken to safeguard our communities against the coronavirus,” said Governor Greg Abbott. 

“We anticipated this situation, we have protocols in place, and our state agencies and personnel are trained and ready to respond.” 

“The state of Texas remains in contact with our federal and local partners, and we will continue to work together to ensure Texas communities have the resources they need to respond to any additional cases of the coronavirus,” concluded Governor Abbott.

As of 4 p.m. on March 4th, the CDC reported 80 cases of COVID-19 disease from 12 states. 

Twenty-four of these cases are travel-related.

The 12 states that have reported cases include Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The CDC says ‘it expects additional instances of person-to-person spread of the SARS-CoV-2  coronavirus in the coming days and weeks.’

SARS-CoV-2 virus travel news published by Vax-Before-Travel.