First Orange County resident tests positive for COVID-19

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GOSHEN – An Orange County resident has tested positive for the coronavirus making the individual the first case in the county. The person, a Monroe town resident (not from Kiryas Joel) is hospitalized in isolation at Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital.

Authorities would not say whether the patient was a man or woman.

The individual presented to the hospital on Tuesday and was tested, March 10, said COO Daniel Maughan. “Once we had a positive there were people that came into contact with the individual who are employees who have now been put on furlough and we don’t expect or suspect that they are ill. We definitely know they are not currently ill and we don’t expect them to become ill,” he said. The hospital is “doing the right thing by their employees by following protocols, Maughan said.

“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.




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