City of Milwaukee confirms first presumptive case of coronavirus

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The City of Milwaukee Health Department has confirmed Milwaukee's first presumptive case of novel coronavirus. 

The individual was in close contact to a confirmed COVID-19 case. 

MHD is awaiting confirmatory testing from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, but health officials consider the presumptive results actionable. 

The patient is a 30-35 year old woman and is currently isolating at home.

MHD is in the process of identifying and contacting all those who may have come in contact with the infected person. Close contacts will be quarantined for 14 days from their exposure and will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms. 

“The City of Milwaukee has been working around the clock to prepare for this and I am confident that our Health Department is up to the challenge,” Mayor Tom Barrett said. “Our Administration is collaborating with federal, state, and local partners as we monitor developments with this outbreak.”

When to seek medical evaluation and advice: 

If you have symptoms like cough, fever over 100.4˚ F, or other respiratory problems such as shortness of breath and have either had contact with an individual who has COVID-19 or traveled to a Level 2 or 3 area domestically or internationally, call your primary healthcare provider or your regular doctor.

Your primary health care provider will be able to collect the needed specimens for testing or refer the patient to an appropriate location.

Testing of asymptomatic individuals is not feasible or advisable at this point in time.

If you cannot see your primary care provider, please go to urgent care.

Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs.

If you are having a life threatening emergency, call 911. 

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