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A Tulare County patient who tested positive for COVID-19 is in "critical condition," according to Kaweah Delta Medical Center officials.

On Monday night, Tulare County Public Health Branch officials notified Kaweah Delta staff that a patient at the hospital tested positive for COVID-19.

It's unclear if the patient contracted the virus from a visit outside the area or from someone within the community.

This is the third person to test positive in Tulare County for the new coronavirus in a week. There are 73 people under self-quarantine in the county, public health officials said.

The patient, whose age wasn't released, is in isolation, and all employees and physicians in contact with the patient are wearing personal protective equipment, Kaweah Delta officials said.

Kaweah Delta staff is working closely with the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency to investigate the case.

More details are expected to be announced at a later date, Tulare County health officials said.

"I can tell you that the individual is a member of a vulnerable population," stated Tammie Weyker-Adkins, Tulare County Health and Human Service Agency public information officer, in an email to Times-Delta.

So far, more than 120 people have been tested in Tulare County. Results are generally taking less than a day.

"As the rest of the country implements increasingly-restrictive measures to protect us from the coronavirus, Kaweah Delta will move forward with similar protections for our patients, their families, our staff, our physicians and our community," said Gary Herbst, Kaweah Delta’s CEO

Kaweah Delta is working to identify all employees who came in contact with the patient and will test and treat anyone who shows symptoms, which include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

This is the second patient to test positive for COVID-19 in Visalia. The first Visalia case was announced on Friday after the patient was screened at Kaweah Delta.

The first Tulare County case was reported at Porterville's Sierra View Medical Center.

In an effort to further protect patients, staff, and community members, Kaweah Delta will implement a temporary no visitor policy at noon Wednesday at the medical center.

Exceptions will be made for active trauma, labor, minors and end-of-life patients, along with patients in need of critical procedures.

Family and loved ones looking for patients can call 624-2000 for patient updates.

Kaweah Delta will position staff to help admit patients for their procedures at the following three Medical Center entrances:

Mineral King Entrance, 400 W. Mineral King Ave. (entrance for emergency department, obstetric/labor, infusion, and lab patients)

The Surgery Center (located on the southwest side of the Medical Center) (entrance for surgery and endoscopy patients)

Acequia Wing, 305 W. Acequia Ave.

Visit the county's public health website to view daily reports on COVID-19.

Sheyanne Romero covers Tulare County public safety, local government and business for the Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register newspapers. Follow her on Twitter @sheyanne_VTD. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.