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Officials have announced the first confirmed case of coronavirus in Shasta County.

A man in his 50s is recovering in isolation at home, according to a statement Sunday from the Shasta County Public Health Department.

The man has a history of recent travel and the public health staff are attempting to identify anyone who had been in close contact with him.

County Health Office Karen Ramstrom said her office was notified of the positive test result at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

The test results were sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control for confirmation, but Ramstrom said she anticipates their testing will confirm the county's results.

County staff is investigating how the man contracted the virus and tracing his contacts to determine who else may be infected, Ramstrom said.

This likely will not be the last case of coronavirus in Shasta County, she said.

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“I think we that do anticipate we are going to have more cases. It’s just a matter of time," she said.

How serious an outbreak depends on how careful people are in attempting to prevent the spread, she said.

"You know I think it depends on how people are behaving in the community, and when they have respiratory illnesses, the more that they stay home and stay away from others it will prevent transmission in this community and hopefully we can slow the spread,” Ramstrom said.

She encouraged people to stay home when they are sick, wash their hands regularly and use good etiquette when coughing or sneezing.

It is also important to stay away from those who are most susceptible to the disease, such as the elderly or others with compromised immune systems or underlying health problems, she said.

"And so that’s when taking preventative steps is super important. So this might be a good time to think about not going to public gatherings, particularly if you have your own underlying health conditions or if you are over the age of 50 or 60," Ramstrom said.

There are CDC travel advisories to a handful of countries for coronavirus, she said. Ramstrom encouraged residents to pay attention to the news, as far as warnings of places to avoid internationally.

“In terms of domestic travel, in no time it's going to be hard to actually nail down particular areas of risk because it's going to be circulating in more and more communities,” she said.

Brandy Isola, the county's public health branch director, said her office has set up information about the coronavirus for those who call 211.

Her office has shifted gears in response to the virus threat, bringing in more employees from other county offices and working longer hours to investigate phone calls regarding the disease, she said.

We're "in regular contact with local healthcare providers and state and federal health officials," Shasta County Health and Human Services spokesperson Tim Mapes said.

"There is a process in place for 24/7 notification for all types of infectious reportable illnesses which includes steps to facilitate testing of specimens. These plans are continuously reviewed as new developments unfold."

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The announcement comes two days after public health officials said the tests on two county residents were negative for the disease.

Mapes, confirming on Friday those two people were not sick with the virus, said one of the original two tested last week had recently been on a cruise where he or she could have been exposed, while the other person met medical criteria for testing.

It takes about 48 hours to get results from a test, he said.

While other people in the community have quarantined themselves after possible exposure, they weren't showing symptoms that warranted testing, he had said.

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Staff at Mercy Medical Center in Redding are "closely monitoring all developments with COVID-19 and are prepared to identify, isolate and treat any potential patient," Dignity Health spokesperson Allison Hendrickson said last week.

Mercy "has the supplies and equipment needed to effectively manage the care of any suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients and we are continuously assessing the volume of supplies at our hospital."

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As health officials learn more about the virus, Hendrickson said Mercy staff are updating how it identifies those patients who may have the virus.

Stations are set up at the main entrance and emergency room entry where people are asked about possible exposure to coronavirus or if they are having symptoms.

Staff receive updated training on equipment and procedures, and go through drills to prepare to treat patients who may have COVID-19.

Damon Arthur is the Record Searchlight’s resources and environment reporter. He is among the first on the scene at breaking news incidents, reporting real time on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Damon is part of a dedicated team of journalists who investigate wrongdoing and find the unheard voices to tell the stories of the North State. He welcomes story tips at 530-225-8226 and damon.arthur@redding.com. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!