GOSHEN – An Orange County resident has tested positive for the coronavirus making the individual the first case in the county. The person, a resident of the Town of Monroe (not part of Kiryas Joel), is hospitalized and isolated.
“When a positive test occurs, the healthcare provider creates a line list,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman. “What that means is a list is created of all persons the patient was in contact with. The county health department then contacts people on that list to notify them of the potential exposure. Such persons are assessed using criteria to determine their symptoms and the potential need for testing,” she said.
Gelman said they have been preparing for that prospect for several weeks and are in regular contact with healthcare providers.
She encouraged people with fever, cough, shortness of breath or other signs of illness to contact their doctor before going to their office. “This minimizes change of more unnecessary exposure,” Gelman said.
