Deschutes County reports first presumptive COVID-19 case

One of six new cases announced around the state Wednesday

(Update: Adding video, recorded news conference link, more details, hospitals urging 'non-essential visitors' to stay away)

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon now has a total of 21 people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since Feb. 28 after the Oregon Health Authority announced six new presumptive positive cases of the novel coronavirus Wednesday, one in Deschutes County.

OHA and Polk, Marion, Umatilla and Deschutes counties are working to identify and isolate any individuals who may have been in close contacts with the cases in the last 14 days. Two more cases were reported later Wednesday, men in their 80s at the Oregon Veterans' home in Lebanon, raising the total to 21 cases.

Dr. Jeff Absalon, chief physician executive at St. Charles Health System, told reporters at a Bend news conference the Deschutes County patient is in an isolation room at a St. Charles facility. More specifics were not released.

Dr. George Conway, Deschutes County's health services director, said they are not yet certain whether the case involved travel or exposure in the community.

“I know it’s difficult to learn that we are seeing more active community spread of COVID-19, but this is something we’ve been expecting,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed, health officer and state epidemiologist, OHA Public Health Division. “It’s a good reminder to take steps to protect yourself, and vulnerable friends and family members, by washing your hands, covering your coughs and sneezes, and staying home if you’re sick.”

St. Charles Health System is working with the Deschutes County Health Department to conduct a contact investigation process to find out how the patient contracted the illness.

“We will, of course, work with (county) Public Health, in terms of the exposure of this particular individual or anybody that has been in contact with that individual,” Absalon said.  “We are starting that process, to investigate each aspect at this point in time.”

St. Charles President and CEO Joe Sluka, in a message to the community Wednesday, said, “this message is very simple: Do not go to a St. Charles hospital if you are not a patient with a reason to be there. This includes vendors, delivery services, business partners and other non-essential visitors.

“Even family members of current patients should consider whether now is the best time to visit. And if you are sick, please stay home and call your primary care physician or your local public health department to discuss your systems and next steps.”

Health officials continue to urge all Oregonians to take steps to protect those who are most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19. Those considered “high risk” include adults 60 and older, or anyone with a serious health condition, including lung or heart problems, kidney disease, or diabetes, or anyone who has a suppressed immune system.

People vulnerable to complications should follow federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to stay home as much as possible and avoid gatherings.

Every resident should take these basic steps to protect those most at risk:

• Never visit a hospital or long-term-care facility if you have a fever or cough illness.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home if you feel ill.

The COVID-19 virus spreads like the flu, when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes close to another person (close means about 6 feet).

After someone contracts COVID-19, illness usually develops within 14 days. Symptoms mirror those of the flu, including fever, cough, runny nose, headache, sore throat and general feelings of illness. That has made it more difficult for health officials to identify sick individuals and stop the virus from spreading.

As testing capacity increases — with Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics online, and clinical laboratories at some Oregon hospitals expected to begin testing by next week — officials expect the number of people who test positive with COVID-19 to rise.

At the time of the news conference, Absalon said St. Charles had 15 tests come back "negative" for the virus. St. Charles is still awaiting other test results, which take 24 to 48 hours to complete.

Stay informed

• Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority leads the state response.
• United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.
• Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.

Deschutes County Public Health held a news conference Wednesday afternoon on the presumptive case.

The news conference is being livestreamed at http://deschutescountyor.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx.

NewsChannel 21's Jordan Williams is at the news conference and will have reports on NewsChannel 21 Fox @ 4 and KTVZ at 5 and 6 p.m.