Three New COVID-19 Cases in Effingham County

Effingham County Health Department Tuesday received notice of three new positive cases of Coronavirus Disease.

A male in his 20s has had contact with persons testing positive for COVID-19. A female in her 20s and a female in her 50s have had no known contact with a positive case. All are doing well in isolation.

Local health departments are noticing an increase in community transmission. It is important to follow safety precautions of social distancing, hand hygiene, wearing a face covering in public, and staying away from large groups or gatherings that do not have safety precautions in place.

When a case is discovered to be positive, they become an active case and the person is placed in isolation. The health department works with the active case to determine who might have been a close contact during the contagious period. Close contacts are placed in quarantine until the possibility of developing infection has safely passed.

Definitions:

ACTIVE CASE--lab-confirmed case that is in isolation

ISOLATION--a person is placed in isolation when they are found to be COVID-positive. They are to stay home and have NO contact with anyone (including anyone in the household), except if in need of medical care or attention. Responders are to wear personal protective equipment. Through interview, a positive case is no longer on isolation when they are no longer considered contagious.

CLOSE CONTACT--Through interview, individuals who are thought to be at most risk of contracting COVID from a confirmed case during the contagious period

QUARANTINE--close contacts are placed in quarantine for 14 days from the date of their last contact with a confirmed positive person. They must stay home and out of the public. Symptoms can start up to 14 days after exposure and can be spread unknowingly if someone is out in the public during this time.

COVID can be spread up to 48 hours before a person starts with symptoms. Anyone who has been at gatherings where little to no safety measures were in placed is at risk of contracting COVID-19. WATCH FOR THESE SYMPTOMS: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea. If you experience symptoms, isolate immediately and contact your healthcare provide about getting tested for COVID-19. 

The public is asked to follow and share trusted sources for information on COVID-19.