AUSTIN -- Public health officials are investigating what could be the first sign of community spread in Texas of the new coronavirus, the the state announced Wednesday.

A Montgomery County man in his 40s tested positive for COVID-19 this week, but officials do not know how since he had not recently traveled or come into contact with another infected person.

“With the possibility of spread in one of our communities, now is the time to intensify our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 in all our communities,” said John Hellerstedt, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, in a statement. “Please continue to take personal preventive actions like washing your hands, disinfecting homes and businesses, and staying home if you’re sick."

Community spread, when a person contracts the virus from an unknown source, would be a turning point for the state.

The more than 20 other cases reported in Texas to date are linked to out-of-state travel.

A Frisco man, who passed the virus to his wife and child, had recently gone to California’s Silicon Valley. The first case in Dallas County is a 77-year-old man from out of state. Another case, in Tarrant County, is an Episcopal rector who traveled to Kentucky for a conference last month.

“From the very start, the state of Texas has anticipated the possibility of community spread of COVID-19, and the proactive strategies we have in place were developed with this very scenario in mind,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement.