Health officials said Lubbock had its first two positive cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Tuesday.

The two cases were not related. One positive test came from a resident of Lubbock County, and the second from a resident of Hockley County. Both were believed to be exposed to the virus while traveling outside the area. City officials made it clear the cases were travel-related, not transmitted within the community.

Health and city officials confirmed the positive cases after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, and hosted an emergency news conference shortly after.

"I just want to reiterate that it’s here and we’re a little bit nervous about it, but let me reassure you that our healthcare system is ready for this," said Dr. Ronald Cook, local health authority. "We’re all in preparation for how this might occur, or how it might spread, if it does spread.

"Be rest assured that we are ready to go," he continued. "We’re ready to handle this situation."

Little information was given about the individuals, including their ages and their recent whereabouts. Health Director Katherine Wells said her department is investigating the matter, and is working to identify any others who could have come into contact with the patients. The health department is identifying any potential exposures, she said.

City officials say it’ll be announced if this person went to a public gathering.

Wells said any individuals who may have come into contact with the patients will be notified.

Like the patients who tested positive for the virus, Wells said any potential contacts will also be asked to self-quarantine. If those people then show signs of symptoms, she said they’ll be tested.

Adding further detail about the patients who tested positive for the virus, Cook said they weren’t hospitalized. Cook said the patients called-in their symptoms and were asked to stay at home and self-monitor. Details as to when symptoms occurred, in relation to returning from travel, wasn’t provided.

"These individuals were both individuals that traveled, they reported symptoms to the health department and we were able to facilitate that testing," Wells said. "That’s all that we can provide at this time... I have staff working on the details and working on making all the proper notifications."

City Manager Jarrett Atkinson said information is being gathered fast, and health officials will release more information when it’s available.

"What we’ve told you today is all confirmed information," Atkinson said. "What we’re not able to speak to is just what we do not have confirmed yet. It will come, it will."

Now with two confirmed cases in Lubbock, health officials strongly emphasized social distancing protocol, the importance of washing hands and cleaning surfaces, and for someone running a fever to stay at home.

"We want people to take seriously the threat," said Mayor Dan Pope. "Your social distancing, take that seriously. We also, though, want you to make sure you look in on your family members and on your elderly neighborhoods... We’re thankful these are both travel cases. We’ll all be more assured when we know more about it."

It was said that testing requirements will remain the same, and per guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, travel history will continue to be a determining factor.

Cook said there’s just not enough test kits to test everyone. If a person is ill with a high fever, a cough, aches and pains, all symptoms of the coronavirus and the flu, he said they need to self-isolate, regardless if it’s the flu or the coronavirus. He said treatment and precautions are the same. He said there’s no cure for the coronavirus, and the only prevention is self-distancing, just like the flu.

And unfortunately, Cook said a cure for the coronavirus won’t be available any time soon. The first treatment trials began this week, and Cook said we shouldn’t count on a vaccine to be available this year.

Lubbock’s announcement came as state officials reported there were more than 70 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state, according to the Texas Tribune.

According to the Associated Press, more than 100 people in the United States have died from the highly contagious new virus.