Patient in Camden County tests preliminary positive for COVID-19, health department says

CAMDEN COUNTY, Ga. — Action News Jax has the very latest on CBS47 and FOX30 at 5.

The Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed that a patient at the Southeast Georgia Health System’s Camden County campus has tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19.

The patient was one of two that received authorized testing for the virus “based on their clinical presentation," according to SGHS. The results for the second patient has not been released at this time. Read more here.

This is the third person locally to test positive for the coronavirus. Action News Jax reported when health officials confirmed a positive coronavirus case in Nassau County and a positive case in Charlton County.

RELATED: Coronavirus cases in Southeast Georgia | Florida coronavirus cases

Third local case of coronavirus confirmed in Camden County Third local case of coronavirus confirmed in Camden County

According to Southeast Georgia Health System, a 29-year-old woman from Charlton County went to the Camden Campus’ Emergency Care Center with respiratory symptoms on Saturday. The patient was screened according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and GDPH screening guidelines, was subsequently treated and released. She did not meet the testing criteria for COVID-19 or warrant hospitalization, SGHS says.

The patient returned to the Camden Campus Emergency Care Center on Monday with worsening symptoms. Despite no travel history or known exposure to COVID-19, the physicians caring for the patient made the determination to place her in isolation, admit her to the hospital for further monitoring and contact GDPH to request authorization for COVID-19 testing, SGHS says.

According to the health system, the preliminary test result was deemed positive. Additional confirmatory testing is being performed and results from CDC are anticipated in the coming days.

The Camden County Campus followed CDC and State guidelines with this patient. During her first visit, they say she did not meet the criteria to be tested for COVID-19. However, when she came back the second time with worse symptoms, she was admitted until her results came back.

The President and CEO of the Southeast Georgia Health System, Michael Scherneck, said the facility identified any employees who had close contact with the patient. Those individuals will be monitored for two weeks and essentially be quarantined until cleared. They have also sent out a warning to any of their patients and deep cleaned the facility.

“She’s 29 years old. So she really didn’t fit into some of the criteria that they’ve expected. They talk about traveling, she’s not had any travel history that was anything of significance. But when she was tested, it takes awhile to get those tests authorized to make sure that they have the appropriate testing,” Scherneck said.

In a statement, SGHS says:

"While we await final confirmation, the Health System has been advised by GDPH to notify caregivers who treated this patient prior to isolation. In addition, although the risk of exposure is low, the Health System has made the decision to proactively notify all patients who may have had contact with any of these caregivers or who may have been in the Emergency Care Center at the time the patient was present in order to instruct them on next steps and address concerns.

The public can be assured that it is safe to seek care at Southeast Georgia Health System and we are prepared to assist the community as we all manage this complex health issue. We have the facilities and the expertise to care for patients suspected of having an infectious disease while protecting the safety of all of our patients, visitors and team members. Both acute care campuses have negative pressure isolation rooms with specialized ventilation systems and our caregivers use personal protective equipment when necessary.

The latest guidance on COVID-19 is available through the GDPH at its toll-free number, 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584), its website dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov. For further information regarding Southeast Georgia Health System’s COVID-19 preparedness and local information, please visit sghs.org."

© 2020 Cox Media Group