PROVIDENCE, RI — A third person has been diagnosed with the new coronavirus in Rhode Island, state health officials announced Friday evening. The woman, who is in her 60s, is an employee at Smithfield Avenue Nursery in Pawtucket.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, the woman is at recovering at home with mild symptoms. She was tested after coming into direct, face-to-face contact with one of the two people confirmed to have the virus. The case is considered "presumptive positive" until the diagnosis is confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Everyone who has had direct, face-to-face contact with the woman is being asked to self-quarantine for 14 days, following CDC guidelines. Anyone who has had contact with someone who is in quarantine but has not developed any symptoms is at low risk of contracting the virus, health officials said.

The first two cases of COVD-19 in Rhode Island were announced on Sunday. Both were part of a 38-person trip to Italy organized by St. Raphael Academy in February. The first patient, a man in his 40s, was hospitalized and is in stable condition. The second, a teenage student, had mild symptoms and has since recovered, health officials said. Don't miss updates about the latest coronavirus updates in Rhode Island as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

