Mayor Nirenberg confirms first case of coronavirus in San Antonio, outside of Lackland evacuees

Dr. Jennifer McQuiston with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with Mayor Ron Nirenberg speak about the coronavirus earlier this month. With evacuees placed at Lackland, San Antonio is on the front line for quarantine efforts. less Dr. Jennifer McQuiston with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with Mayor Ron Nirenberg speak about the coronavirus earlier this month. With evacuees placed at Lackland, San Antonio is on the ... more Photo: Kin Man Hui /Staff Photographer Photo: Kin Man Hui /Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 98 Caption Close Mayor Nirenberg confirms first case of coronavirus in San Antonio, outside of Lackland evacuees 1 / 98 Back to Gallery

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg confirmed the city's first case of COVID-19 outside of the evacuees at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

The case is related to out-of-state travel and isn't related to the evacuees from the Grand Princess cruise ship being housed at Lackland, Nirenberg said during a news conference Friday.

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"That we have the first case in the city of San Antonio isn't all that surprising," said Nirenberg, as he reminded people to wash their hands and continue prevention efforts.

City officials said the patient is in self-quarantine and are trying to determine who the patient has come in contact with.

The mayor said they will update the public as information becomes available.

"In the absence of information is fear," the mayor said.

Nirenberg also issued a declaration of public health emergency to help limit the spread of the virus and prohibits large gatherings. The declaration will expire in seven days.

The declaration states that any events with 250 people or less should be limited and events with 500 people or more will be postponed or canceled.

Exceptions to the declaration include hospitals and schools. Nirenberg said local school districts are assessing what their next steps should be.

San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said the city’s first responders are also taking precautions. Hood said some firefighters have been placed under isolation because of travel and not because of patient contact. There is no indication the firefighters have coronavirus, it is a precautionary measure.

Hood said fire crews are under strict guidelines for responding to calls. Emergency dispatchers will heavily screen calls with coronavirus-related conditions.

Only one or two firefighters or paramedics will initially arrive outfitted in the proper equipment and will make visual assessments from at least 6 feet away from the patient.

“If we believe it is coronavirus, we will tell the patient they need to call their provider and get tested,” Hood said. “We don’t want to overload the emergency rooms; we don’t want to put our first responders at risk and we don’t want to put a fire station out of commission.”

SAFD also canceled all community service events such as its annual Fill the Boot fundraiser.

The city warned those exhibiting symptoms should visit their primary care provider first and only show up to an emergency room as a last resort.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, MySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway