The first Nebraskan to

has arrived at the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, a UNMC spokesman said Friday night.

The confirmed COVID-19 case is a 36-year-old woman who was traveling in the United Kingdom, officials said in a news conference call about 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Her symptoms were mild but got worse Thursday. The patient went to Methodist Hospital's emergency department Thursday for a respiratory infection that had been going on for 12 days, officials said. That's when she tested positive for COVID-19.

She was transferred to the National Biocontainment Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center on Friday night.

"The presence of one case in our community suggests the possibility there are others that are yet to be diagnosed," officials said.

The woman is believed to be from Omaha. The positive test result was confirmed at 2 p.m. Friday.

The epidemiology team is going to figure out who may have been exposed to her. Her current condition was described as "seriously ill."

Officials credited the staff at Methodist Hospital who realized what was happening and used proper containment methods.

UNMC officials emphasized that very few positive cases of the coronavirus will be treated in the 10-unit Nebraska Biocontainment Unit.

There is currently one person still in biocontainment for

at UNMC.

Health officials were still working out the logistics of transporting the woman to UNMC, most likely in an isolation pod.

Gary Anthone, M.D., is chief medical officer with the Department of Health and Human Services.

"We have an epidemiology team here that will be on the spot within probably minutes now to answer some of those questions," he said during the press conference Friday afternoon.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts said, "When he says on the spot he means they're going to start the research right now on tracking where this patient has been so we can again find out who may else have been exposed."

Ricketts added that UNMC has sufficient capacity right now to be able to test patients that come in like today's case.

"We don't have the testing capacity, for example, to test everybody in Omaha. We are going to be working to expand the testing capacity but we don't have the capacity to test the general public at this point," he said.

Officials continue to encourage good hygiene practices and urging people to avoid touching their face, or shaking hands with others.

“As we receive news of the first case of coronavirus in our state, I continue to urge Nebraskans to practice healthy habits to avoid transmitting germs,” Gov. Pete Ricketts said in a news release. “Like a snowstorm, Nebraskans should be planning in case they need to be at home for an extended period, and they should also plan in case schools close. At the same time, I want to assure Nebraskans that State leaders and medical professionals across Nebraska are doing their utmost to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus on public health.”

PREVENTION

Stay home if you are sick.

Avoid close contact with those who are sick.

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

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