Spartanburg County plant worker tests positive for coronavirus, company CEO says Employee works at Ritrama Inc. in Spartanburg County, CEO says



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ladies and gentlemen, Welcome. Welcome back. This is Josie McDaniel. Birkett. You're familiar with her? She's been with us when we've had press conferences and disseminating information about hurricanes, which is we mentioned Last time we were here a few days ago. Our experience and setting up lines of communication with incorporations around the entire state among all institutions with the hurricanes has given us a good network with which to work. In many cases, it's the same network to work with concerning this virus and other such things way. Do have some information for you ate as you note and which will be providing an answering your questions. And I'd urge everyone again. All the people have that to get your information from these official sources. You don't want to respond. Rumors and inaccurate information, but will be full is complete. We can be within the limits of what various laws about privacy of prescribed. But we thank you for being here and would be glad we have several presentations and then we'll have some questions. But I'll say it's beginning. This is precisely what we have been planning for in this with this virus, we're communicating, cooperating with have the all hands are on deck and we're following the standard operating procedures that have been been planned and that you've heard about and there's there's no reason for alarm. We asked people to go about your daily lives with the understanding that there's a new virus at the end, but there are ways to protect yourself from it. So with that at all, Dr Rick to me of Dehecq, if you please come forward. Thank you, Governor. Good morning. As you know, we're currently conducting investigations into two possible cases of the Corona virus in South Carolina. We understand that many of you may have concerns about how this may impact South Carolinians as the state's lead for public health. Dehecq is taking proactive steps to be prepared to protect the public's health, including informing healthcare providers of recommendations for testing, the availability of testing and the appropriate precautions for the public. We're sharing with you this information as we get it as you are aware. Late yesterday afternoon, we had two presumptive positive test for the Corona virus. Our decision was to release this information in a quick fashion, so that has led us to now start the process of the investigations. For those two possible Corona viruses, those specimens have been sent to the CDC is lab for confirmation testing Based on what we see and know. So far, the risk for the public remains low. I want to thank all of our public health officials and various leaders and groups across this state for their continued dedication to protect the citizens of South Carolina. Public health events like this one are not new to South Carolina estate. We have responded to Zika the End one h one SCARs and others in court, including the current flu season. Together, we have trained, prepared and put systems into place to ensure that we're prepared to respond to this and other events. I am joined here today by Dr Linda Bell, our state epidemiologist. Dr. Bell and her team have been hard at work coordinating with our state, federal and local partners. Throughout this event. We're still learning much about the virus. We're committed to keeping the public informed. This includes establishing a dedicated website, South Carolina dehecq dot gov Backslash Cove, it 19 that c O V. I. D. 19 and this site will help answer the many questions that citizens might have. As we learn more, we will make sure to keep you informed on the latest information. As we receive it, I now turn the floor over to Dr Linda Bell for an update on our ongoing investigations and what we know so far, Dr Bell, Thank you, Director to Ming. Good morning. Late yesterday afternoon, Dehecq received presumptive positive results for two individuals who tested for the novel Corona Virus Cove in 19. It's important to note that the two cases are unrelated, as we reported last night. One patient is a woman in Charleston County who is currently self isolated at home and recently returned from a trip to France. In Italy. She has a mild illness and does not require medical treatment. The other patient is a woman in Kershaw County who is currently hospitalized in in isolation. The Kershaw County woman has no known exposure at this time. The possible source of her infection is still being investigated. She was transferred from a hospital in Kershaw County to another hospital in Midland's to to provide an appropriate level of care is her needs C. As part of all of our initial notification process is Dehecq works to identify the close contacts of possible cases who may have been exposed. This helps us to identify those who may be at risk and to prevent the spread of disease. While health risk to the general public in the United States and South Carolina remains low, our primary goal is prevention and control. We understand that residents have concerns about how the virus may impact South Carolinians. We are encouraging the public to remain calm. There is no evidence of ongoing transmission in South Carolina at this time. There is no reason to alter your daily routines other than to continue to be vigilant about keeping germs from spreading by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands frequently with warm soap and water and staying home when sick. Dehecq has been in, uh, has been conducting investigations year round of many communicable diseases, So we have been preparing for the introduction of this virus in South Carolina for weeks. Our medical consultants conduct more than 700 disease investigations each year for a variety of illnesses. We have planned, prepared and tested our ability to respond to public health threats like Covad 19 and we have developed strong relationships with health care providers through the years. I also want to reaffirm to the public that are planning and preparations have created a system that is working. The medical professionals who presided over each patient's care followed CD Sees and D had guidance and took the appropriate steps to recommend their respective patients for testing for Cove in 19. Dehecq then consulted with those medical professionals, agreed that the patient's met the recommendations for testing and proceeded with the testing at the state's public health lab. Again, we encourage the public to remain calm and to continue to practice daily precautions to prevent the spread of germs washing your hands, frequently, covering your cough, staying home when you're sick and appropriately disposing of tissues and other items that have potentially been contaminated. While we understand that there is a lot of interest, we're still learning about the virus and investigating this situation. As we learn more and when cases are confirmed, we will continue to update you as quickly and as timely as possible. Thank you. Thank you very much. Co President of Medical University. Thank you, Governor. Um, thank you for allowing me to join you and doctor to me here today, in regards to the situation facing our state embassies rolls are several layers are several. Fold here to collaborate with our state partners to help provide and reinforce important health information to provide expert care and testing support and prove it. Promote new ways and new treatments is available and as soon as possible. Muc released a statement last night about a presumed positive patient case. She's a member of our embassy family. I'd like to take a moment to reinforce it and acknowledge that this person is doing doing the right thing. She has been falling protocol. She's been making the right decisions. The system has been working and I want to thank her for that. It's important the other piece of information to piece of information I'd like to share with you today. Muc has been working with state partners to create better access to Kobe 19. Testing. The idea is to be able to deliver local testing with rapid turnaround time when this when these efforts become available and we would anticipate very soon we will release that information, the process and how that will affect and enable us all had better capability in this domain. Finally, I'd like to announce that as of this morning, Muc is offering a free, urgent virtual care platform for people in South Carolina experiencing mild to moderate flu like symptoms. Simply sign onto muc dot care and use the code. Kobe 19 Experience providers will treat symptoms, provide information and give direction. At this moment, I'd like to then ask Dr Ed O'Brien to the podium. It is our director of muc virtual care platform, and he's going to give a little more detail on walking through What? This looks like they got a coal governor. Um, so we've been preparing in South Carolina for events like these, uh, and been prepared to address them through telemedicine. This is really because of the governors in the legislative support and making uh, South Carolina, a true leader in telemedicine in the nation were only one of only two nationally certified telehealth centres of excellence in the United States. So we are prepared in terms of telemedicine. With our platform, you can receive care from a group of trusted M. U S C doctor's nurse practitioners and P s from your home any time 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. If you have flu like symptoms, or if you just have questions and anywhere in South Carolina, you can log on to www dot m. U S c dot care or just him. USC dot care and access the Cove it 19 concerns area of the platform. At that point, you'll answer a series of questions, and M U S C provider can treat your symptoms and give you advice on what to do from there. Or they may want to speak to you in person. If your symptoms warrant that the ways they make contact, you are by phone, video or chat. We're making us free to anyone in South Carolina. Just use the promo code Cove it 19 c o v i d. 19 You'll need to use that code at the payment screen, and you'll see there's a place to type in a promo code. This is a great tool to get care without being exposed or exposing others. Tow whatever illness you may have. Just remember, the flu is still very rampant in South Carolina, and we can treat that with Tele Medicine as well. We believe this platform will make a tremendous impact on the people of our state. Thank you. All the any questions. I'll say. As you can see, we're we are prepared to the nth degree. The protocols procedures established that these these two patients did Precisely What has been advised to do that is if you feel like you think you call your doctor and if necessary, you go to the hospital and and we will be tested a cz they were. So all the questions, fanny one man come back from Europe and our other piece will be tested on your plane. Yes, yes, she did return by a flight on and again, the protocol is what is normal. We are working with her on her flight schedule, communicating that to the CDC so the CDC can implement their protocols In looking at, ah, individuals that may be at risk. You come back through Charleston or whatever. She came back through Charleston when, over a week ago, she won 13. That he had been laundering No more questions was How is your current condition how she's feeling right now and then also the current conditions. How was the other? I can answer the question, but the Charleston patient, she actually is doing quite well. Um, and head of mild symptoms for about 24 36 hours. You want it watching your baby? I would refer you to, for example, the vertical air platform where it specifically what the guidelines on what things would look for flu like symptoms or generally, what you would expect in this sort of context it's too early for that thing is going precisely as we believed it would. We, as I say, we all the protocols and procedures that people are all stood up, alert, activated. We have the systems to respond. It's so it's way too early for any of those kinds of considerations this is. But again, this is We urge people to to follow the instructions that have given by been given by virtually every health care person of own television in Washington to locally about wash your hands, cover your face if you sneeze or cough. Oh, if you're sick, go home. We called the doctor and now we know with this new telehealth availability, you don't need to go to a doctor to get some information. If you feel about staying at home and asking, answering some questions on on the Internet within U. S. C and then possibly speak in tow. Health care provider there, that's that is a big, big helping big convenience. But again, it's an indication of how well prepared well, here in South Carolina, the elderly woman in her shell Was she in a nursing home? Obviously. Okay, no, she was not under nursing home prior to becoming you way. Conduct contact investigations around every person who's identified and so the close contacts are being investigated and appropriate measures are being taken to evaluate them. Should they develop symptoms of illness or thio, place them, um, under quarantine for 14 days to make sure that they don't become ill and expose others well, all hospitals. No, the protocols to follow for appropriate isolation, depending on the patient's condition. And so they're observing the appropriate infection control procedures. Can you give updated numbers on the cases that are being monitored actively right now? Yes. Where that is posted on our website. How many kids do you? We have a test kits available to test between 80 and 100 patients per day. Say again, please. Um, I believe we have 1000 speak specifically to senior citizen. Who is she? She's been transferred to an appropriate level of care for her needs. And we otherwise don't comment on the status of individuals. Health conditions. Um, the the woman from Kershaw counties in her eighties. The woman from Charleston is in her thirties and this woman in Kershaw County Are you considering community, Brad, when it comes directed by. So we're still investigating the potential source of her investigation. Any possible contacts that she may have had to identify the source? The county patient? Yeah. Certain visions. Like reading. I can't comment on her individual medical condition. Kershaw was wrong. And the senior citizen currently in the hospital when she first the the person in the the Kershaw County resident was first tested on the test was submitted to our Dehecq lab on March the fifth. And that is that we received both of those specimens on the same day, and they were resulted out on the same day. So people living in her shot county, since we don't know the exact way this woman possibly contracted the virus, do they need to take any additional precautions right now other than now. We don't recommend any additional measures than those that we have already communicated that are known to be effective in preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses that are spread by respiratory droplets and government master. Have you had any competition or the president about federal help in response with the vice president? Yes, not with the president personally, but we've been in contact with them. And secretaries are, oh constantly in constant communication with your conversation with my friend. No, he was assuring us all that the whatever is necessary will will be done. But again, back to the contact. We know that this is spread through person to person. Contact, contact or contact with. I have the so virus in touch the table and leave droplets. Then you touch the table than that is contact. So that's that is how you spread. It is not an airborne virus. In the personal personal, she's been transferred to a hospital in the Midlands. When will she traced? She was transferred yesterday on the more questions I assume this is be administered in person. There wouldn't be would be positive diagnosis. So if someone goes through this and they're expecting to have what's the next step? The next step is referring them to. Appropriate resource is if they are high risk for a complication and meet CDC guidelines for testing. We also will be giving everyone resource is to self quarantine symptoms to look out for, and we can treat symptoms. A cz well. All the resource is posted to the CDC website Resource Is that tell you some of it of infection control. What to do, Just like the governor saying, Went to wash your hands went toe. Isolate yourself What isolation means. People don't understand that. So it means staying away from people what time period to isolate yourself when you feel like you might not need to be on isolation. It also gives you ideas on on what does put you at risk for contracting the virus. Travel locations, contact with known cases, things like that that is correct. That is correct and not to be living. But you can't obviously know from an act whether someone has a cold or flu or room. So what, you need help? What is the compass? Sure, you you can accomplish actually quite a bit to tell Madison at S O, we call it equivalent care. So your physician, when you go to the doctor, can frequently tell the difference when the flu and a cold or another kind of virus. So we can do that through the apa's well on you using a constellation of clinical symptoms and clinical distort to make a diagnosis. But as far as a physical testing kit that cannot be done through, you know how many? Actually, yes, That information is also posted on the Dehecq website on our weekly flu watch. What is it would have? Can you give us some know you're looking for? Some numbers could be so too because there is such a large number of cases. I really advise you to go to the Dehecq website because it gives the breakdown of the number of flu cases by region and the number of deaths by age group. So there's a wealth of information and to get all the details that you need, it's really best that you visit the website to get the full report that's posted weekly. So these two cases will be confirmed after the protocol is that if there's a presumptive positive, we send the tests specimens to the CDC and 24 to 48 hours. They'll issue a confirmation or let us know that it's a false positive, but they will confirm it. You don't I'm just trying to say, Would you be so kind as to explain why that has to do with the introduction of a new test kit? The CDC released this the test kits to state public health labs just a few weeks ago, and it's required that when a new laboratory begins performing a new test, the CDC has to validate those results. So the what it means is that when the state lab runs the test, we call that and gets a positive. We call that a presumptive positive, and then the CDC that has developed the test will run the same specimen and will validate the result and give a confirmed positive form of yourself. How do you monitor to make sure? No, so they're given just a clarification. Isolation is for individuals who are ill, and the individuals that were monitoring are for people who have not developed symptoms and are being monitored for the possibility of symptoms. And so they're given information on symptoms to watch for, to check their temperature on a daily basis and what symptoms to report should they become ill. That's the monitoring procedure. The isolation is for individuals who are already ill, and they're to stay home and away from public places until their illness resolves because they're in contact with, depending on their the individuals who are ill are in. This is through an agreement and if they violate that agreement, and we can impose more stringent measures. But way have ways of monitoring all of these individuals by having Health department staff stay in close touch with them, uh, to to require them and to enforce isolation measures so that if if it's not voluntary, if they're not cooperative than we can impose legal measures to require them to be detained and monitored or enforced at a higher level, it would, so it would depend on a case by case basis. We do this for other communicable diseases, and in some instances it would mean that they have to be put under certain in a certain facility or certain locked down. If individuals are well enough to be kept at home. The vast majority of them will have symptoms that will resolve in a matter of a few days. And so moving to that next level of mandatory isolation is unlikely to be required. Can you talk about I know Charleston have returned home. I think you believe that a week ago and you have done the testing yesterday. Can you talk about when the state first became aware of the potential even before the testing was done? Like littering? First aware. Okay. It was first reported to the state of a few days after her onset of illness. So she the onset of illness is believed to be around February the 28th. She first sought care, I believe, on March the second she was reported to the health Department on March the fifth. The specimen was collected on that day and the result was reported out the following day. She in contact with school for everywhere? No, and the cursed. When that brought you here, What? She had a more prolonged course of illness. And she was admitted to a hospital for evaluation of an unknown illness. And so the course of her illness is a bit more prolonged. The other diagnostic tests were performed Thio to find out what was the cause of her illness. And when those diagnostic tests were negative, they began considering the possibility of Cove in 19. And so the course of her evaluation is a bit more prolonged. We're being told people would China Ron is that Dehecq is monitoring individuals who have traveled to impacted areas. And should they develop symptoms, they are encouraged to seek medical care. Inappropriate way and a decision is made whether or not testing is indicated, depending on the presentation of their illness. We rota virus. That's something used. That's correct. Go back to personal. You said it was You describe what that means? No, she was It was in. She was admitted in February and she was being evaluated over the course of several days for other potential causes until they decided that those had been ruled out and then she was tested. Like, um, I don't have the exact dates of her original. These air still things the details are being investigated would go one year earlier. Questions about this what m U S. C has set up does eliminate a trip to the doctor. You can, Doctor essentially comes to you and then depending on what the results of that transfer of information are, then the next step could be taken. So that's a a very important thing we have here in the state that we've been preparing for its putting it to use. Man. See you. She your knowledge is great. She has not left to see. That's correct. We don't have a history that she has traveled outside of the United States and outside of South Carolina. Well, at this time, we're still investigating a potential source of her infection you. But community spread is one possibility as her source, if she has no history of travel and we're continuing to investigate to see if she had contact with someone who did potentially travel elsewhere and then that would make this case a connection to a travel associative case. And we're still working to investigate all of those details. How accurate order, How accurate are the tests that you are ministering to get this exact 19 virus? Or could she just the woman because she just had the common flu and it's a false positive. That is a possibility And that is the reason that we have sent specimens to the CDC to validate the results that we have in South Carolina as a percentage. How accurate are the test that go perform to say it is this exact virus? The test kitchen it's available, is specific for the diagnosis of covert 19 and not other conditions. And we believe it's a highly reliable test. So no number. You can't give me a number. I I don't I can't give you because it's a new test. I can't give you the number of the sensitivity in the specificity of this particular test for detecting this particular virus. But we believe that it is highly reliable. Hold on Dennis across the state, making differently that they should be doing right now that we have to no the hospital cases. We are confident that the the the there's only one hospital case and so in the to healthcare facilities that that patient has been. And we're confident that the isolation precautions that are taken are are following the recommendations, the health care workers air, using personal protective equipment and observing the isolation measures that are taken in all hospitals for respiratory illnesses as faras other things to do in the community. There's no indication at this time for businesses, schools or others that anything different be done because there's no evidence of ongoing spread in the community. Government Master, Deputy director of Commerce Boys Studio today. The last time we had here, he talked a little bit about How did you packs of Corona virus? The best of your knowledge? How has that changed? We still see well, those those that deal with parts that come from China. Of course, a lot of those routes have been disrupted, and that is primarily what he was speaking of when he was describing that. But the that maybe other disruptions at a later date. But so far we are the business. Always have alternative plan for finding parts for vehicles off from manufacturing parts. And a lot of that, of course, that says what's been coming from China. So a lot of that is is disrupted this time, but businesses are strong and again there's a lot of communication going on and again because of hurricanes and weather conditions like that. We are familiar with making having alternative routes and things of that nature, so there may be some impact, but there's no way to measure that at this point. Talking about possible procedure with a woman in a hospital here, that hospital still open for visitors, things like that. This is just isolated. Merchant needs to be here when you talk about access to that hospital. There's no reason for the hospital to change their admission admission procedures because they observe these isolation measures for other conditions all the time. So there's there's nothing different that the hospitals need to do that have provided care for this patient. I think that's one of the 1,000,000 poets would wanna have with all the people. Is that the the steps that provision the precautions that we've been talking about from the beginning and recommending and the same things you hearing from the CDC and others in national experts on these things and we have some. Some here are are to wash your hands, cover your mouth, stay away from people's needs in the coffin. If you feel sick, go home, and if you feel it is necessary, call the doctor and this is pretty much been covered. But I have to have specifically for that we've got coming up. They had a day, not a change. We were proceeding precisely as we've been proceeding from the beginning, with urgent people to take those urging people to take those those precautions because again, it's not an airborne virus that is not floating in the air like chickenpox. And I think some flues. This is something you have to have some contact with, the droplets that have come from another person. You have to have some sort of contacts. As long as you're not doing that, you could be fine. This elderly woman who was in the health system for a while I have other people who were there, the next boat, right, the Corona virus or the possibility that yeah. So even prior to the time that her diagnosis was confirmed as soon as the cove in 19 became even a possibility, the healthcare facility took measures to place her in isolation and to make sure that all of the health care workers were observing appropriate measures to protect themselves with personal protective equipment. We have We are investigating all the potential contacts and and we'll be monitoring those individuals for potential signs of illness, and all of those contacts. So there there is an investigation that's done all the time. Contact investigations around infectious cases to make sure that we identify all those who are exposed to observe for possible signs of symptoms and to prevent additional spread should they become ill. I that varies on the conditions. The everything from the humidity, the heat, and it can range from a few hours, and it could be as long as a few days in certain very special circumstances. So the again the importance of frequently washing your hands is very important and is protective in certain settings. The need for environmental cleaning is indicated, and that's done in hospital settings and in other areas where illnesses may have been recognized. The engines are different well, the symptoms that they cause they're similar. They both cause it febrile illness or meaning, an illness that presents with fever and upper respiratory symptoms with a dry cough and snipping. And so the the ability to make a distinction between those illnesses with a diagnostic test is important because the because blue is circulating so widely in the community, it's much more likely that people who present with those symptoms will actually have flu or other common respiratory illnesses. So that's why we run the diagnostic test on individuals. If these other illnesses have been ruled out so that we can identify Cove in 19 any more questions? Well, we thank you very much for coming and we will keep you up today. Thank you.

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