Memorial Hermann asks 11 workers who came in contact with coronavirus patient to self-quarantine

Memorial Hermann asked 11 workers to self-quarantine for the next two weeks after learning that “a small number of patients” who screened for coronavirus at its facility have tested positive for the disease. less Memorial Hermann asked 11 workers to self-quarantine for the next two weeks after learning that “a small number of patients” who screened for coronavirus at its facility have tested positive for the ... more Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Staff Photographer Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 104 Caption Close Memorial Hermann asks 11 workers who came in contact with coronavirus patient to self-quarantine 1 / 104 Back to Gallery

Houston’s Memorial Hermann Hospital has asked 11 workers to self-quarantine for the next two weeks after learning that a patient who was treated for gastrointestinal pain had been on a cruise ship in Egypt and later tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Doctors at Memorial Hermann said Saturday that the patient hadn’t initially been screened for COVID-19 and the patient was released from a Memorial Hermann medical facility about a week ago. They declined to identify the location of the clinic or hospital, citing privacy concerns.

“The virus threw us a curve,” said Dr. David Callender, president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System.

At the time, Egypt wasn’t identified as a concern for travelers, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea hadn’t yet been noted as a potential sign of the disease, hospital officials said Saturday at a press conference.

Eleven healthcare workers were potentially exposed to the patient during the first visit at the medical facility, and three of those workers are showing “mild” symptoms, said Dr. Angela Shippy, chief medical and quality officer at Memorial Hermann.

All 11 workers have been tested for COVID-19. Officials expect to receive test results within 24 to 48 hours.

Officials said there are still eight confirmed cases in the Houston area. Callender said the hospital system is treating several of those patients. He declined to say how many.

“We treat them as we would any patient who has an infectious disease caused by a similar respiratory agent,” he said. “So flu, measles, pneumonia, COVID-19, we treat them all the same.”

Mayor Sylvester Turner called for all Houston residents who have traveled internationally to take precautions when they return home.

"Out of an abundance of caution, I encourage people who recently traveled internationally to self-quarantine for 14 days. Also, if you have traveled or plan to travel internationally, I advise you wait two weeks before visiting nursing homes or senior living facilities, as an added precaution. And, people who are sick need to always stay home to prevent infecting others," he wrote on Facebook Saturday night.