© Sarahbeth Maney/Sarahbeth Maney | MLive.com/mlive.com/TNS A bin of clothes belonging to a resident are placed outside on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 in front of Center For Hope in Flint. Some residents were asked to leave after coming in contact with a person who tested positive for coronavirus.

FLINT, MI – A woman who tested positive for COVID-19 has been moved out of a Flint homeless shelter along with several others who came into contact with her, according to an official with the shelter.

© Sarahbeth Maney/Sarahbeth Maney | MLive.com/mlive.com/TNS Randy Davis, 51, stands for a portrait on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 in front of Center For Hope in Flint. Davis was asked to leave with his belongings after being in contact with a person who tested positive for coronavirus.

Mary Stevenson, volunteer services coordinator for the Center for Hope, said the facility received word that “one of our guests who’s been here as recently as Monday was a presumptive positive.”

Genesee County ranks fourth for coronavirus cases in the state as of Thursday with 46. The total number of cases now stand at 2,295, up from 1,791 on Tuesday. There have been 43 deaths statewide, but none in Genesee County.

It’s not clear if the woman, whose name was not released, is part of the statistics yet.

Stevenson said the local hospital -- whose name she did not provide -- notified the center the woman was leaving the hospital against medical advice.

“We can’t welcome her or anybody that’s been exposed back into the building,” said Stevenson. “We’ve got to be protective of people here and the rest of the staff.”

Stevenson said there were other people who came into the contact with the woman and her boyfriend Tuesday morning. The woman’s boyfriend also went to a local hospital after exhibiting symptoms, according to Stevenson.

© Sarahbeth Maney/Sarahbeth Maney | MLive.com/mlive.com/TNS Randy Davis, 51, and Tina Boyden, 54, sit outside after being asked to leave Center For Hope on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 in Flint. Some residents were asked to leave with their belongings after coming in contact with a person who tested positive for coronavirus.

“Everybody that came into contact with her and her boyfriend had to be sent outside,” she said.

The group was left stranded out on the sidewalk Wednesday. When 26-year-old Austin Wilson tried to go back into the building that morning, he was not allowed.

“They said that I couldn’t because I was near the people that they had said had the virus ...” he said. “Now I can’t get any water and I’m thirsty.”

© Sarahbeth Maney/Sarahbeth Maney | MLive.com/mlive.com/TNS Former resident Teresa Bailey, 44, poses for a photo in front of a mural on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at Center For Hope in Flint.

After being asked to leave, Melaney Smith said the group was given their totes with their personal belongings placed in trash bags.

© Sarahbeth Maney/Sarahbeth Maney | MLive.com/mlive.com/TNS A resident's belongings are placed outside on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 in front of Center For Hope in Flint. Some residents were asked to leave after coming in contact with a person who tested positive for coronavirus.

Stevenson said the group was provided with a blanket and blessing bag with food items inside.

“They weren’t turned out in the cold without anything,” she said.

It’s unclear what happened to the woman who tested positive.

Representatives for Hurley Medical Center and McLaren Flint said they were not aware of such a case when contacted by MLive-The Flint Journal. Ascension Genesys in Grand Blanc Township did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

© Sarahbeth Maney/Sarahbeth Maney | MLive.com/mlive.com/TNS Former resident Santiago Martinez poses for a photo in front of a mural on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at Center For Hope in Flint.

Hospital officials said that, in general, people who test positive for COVID-19 are free to leave.

© Sarahbeth Maney/Sarahbeth Maney | MLive.com/mlive.com/TNS Former resident Teresa Bailey, 44, poses for a photo in front of a mural on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at Center For Hope in Flint.

“We don’t force people to stay,” said Peggy Agar, spokeswoman for Hurley. "Everyone who tests positive doesn’t stay anyway. Many go home and self-quarantine.”

But for those who don’t have a home, a shelter might be the only option. The Center of Hope was poised to close soon anyway, regardless of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Center of Hope offers overnight shelter during the winter, between Dec. 1 through March 31, but officials are going to be stopping that service a little earlier this year, on March 27. Staff will be trying to find accommodations for those who are in need.

© Sarahbeth Maney/Sarahbeth Maney | MLive.com/mlive.com/TNS People sit outside of Center For Hope after a resident tests positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 in Flint.

MLive photo intern Sarahbeth Maney contributed to this report.

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