OROVILLE — A man over the age of 65 is Butte County’s first person to test positive for COVID-19, Butte County Public Health Officer Dr. Andy Miller announced in a news conference Saturday afternoon.

Miller said the man had prior chronic medical conditions, resides in Chico and is isolating at home with one family member.

He is experiencing mild symptoms of the virus and “appears to be doing quite well.”

“It’s still unknown how the person contracted the virus and an investigation is ongoing to learn more about possible travel or other close contact exposure,” Miller said.

The one family member, whose age is unknown, will be on a 14-day quarantine and monitored daily by the Butte County Public Health Department.

According to Miller, the Butte County Public Health Department was not notified of the man being tested or his positive results until hours before the news conference.

As of Thursday, the county was waiting for test results from 36 local individuals.

“We are not aware of all the tests that go to commercial labs,” Miller said. “We are aware of some of them, but not all of them.”

The Chico man is believed to have been tested Thursday at a major medical center in the Bay Area as part of a pre-operation procedure for an unrelated medical issue.

“They were due for some important and timely care and it would be particularly important for them to know this before that care was received,” Miller said.

He was also tested locally for “mild respiratory symptoms and a subjective fever” prior to the Bay Area testing.

Miller did not disclose the location of the first testing and “had no idea” when it occurred.

“We’re not going to comment on that tonight,” Miller said.

An investigation will follow to obtain a history of where the person has been and who he has been around to decide if people need to be warned or quarantined.

“This reinforces the stay-at-home order announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom,” Miller said. “We urge Butte County residents and residents everywhere to adhere to that guidance.”

Miller added that this case will not change recommendations for the health center or the general public.

He suggested people with increased concerns over the first confirmed case in Butte County continue focusing on the advice given by health officials.

“If you’re ill, stay home,” Miller said. “I think you’ve heard that your whole life, but right now it’s more important than it’s ever been, so if you are ill, stay home … Do it for yourself, do it for your friends and do it for all of our community, especially those at high-risk.”

What to do if you’re sick

Per the Butte County Public Health website, people with mild symptoms and not sick enough to be hospitalized should self-isolate at home.

They should also:

Avoid close contact with others

Stay home for at least seven days from the start of symptoms

Stay home at least 72 hours after fever is gone

Stay home until respiratory symptoms have improved

People with severe symptoms of respiratory illness should call their health care provider immediately.