PHOENIX — A third person has been diagnosed with COVID-19. This case involving a female healthcare worker in her 40s is the second presumptive positive case identified by the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory.
According to health officials, the patient lives in Pinal County but works and is now hospitalized in Maricopa County.
The case marks the first known instance of “community spread” Coronavirus (COVID-19).
“Before, when we just had one or two cases, our job was to contain the disease and try to keep COVID-19 out of our community,” said Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, medical director for disease control at the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
“Now that there is community spread, we all need to do our part to slow the spread, which means keeping sick people away from others.”
Community spread refers to the spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown, advises the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS).
“The COVID-19 outbreak is rapidly evolving and based on events in other states, we expect additional cases and community spread in Arizona,” said Dr. Cara Christ, ADHS director. “Keeping Arizonans safe and healthy is our number one priority and we are confident the public health system in Arizona is well prepared to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.”
ADHS says that public health officials are currently investigating to identify any close contacts that may have been exposed. Those individuals identified will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms.
Coronavirus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms are thought to appear within two to 14 days after exposure and consist of fever, cough, runny nose, and difficulty breathing.
Health officials advise that people considered at risk for contracting the virus are individuals with travel to an area where COVID-19 is spreading or individuals in close contact with a person under investigation for the COVID-19.