Home / Houston News / Here’s what we know about the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Harris County

Here’s what we know about the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Harris County

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Houston Health Department has confirmed the first ‘presumptive positive’ case of COVID-19 within Houston’s city limits.

Thursday night, officials confirmed there is a man between the ages of 60-70 years old who has a history of international travel.

The man is said to be experiencing some symptoms and has self-quarantined at home.

His lab work has been sent to the CDC in Atlanta for testing.

On Thursday night, Harris County officials released a statement confirming that another Houston-area resident was a presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, in addition to a man and a woman who were confirmed to have the virus.

Officials say a third person has been identified as a man between 60-70 years old who lives in northwest Harris County.

It is believed that all the cases of the virus were contracted abroad in Egypt.

Here’s the total cases in our area:

Harris County- 2 Confirmed
Harris County -1 Presumptive
Houston-1 Presumptive
Fort Bend County-1 Presumptive

An additional case involve a man and a woman from around the same area.

County Judge Lina Hidalgo added the two patients, including a Rice University employee, were part of a group that traveled to Egypt. Hidalgo said she believes there will be more cases to come in the county.

Stefania Okolie

@StefaniaOnABC13

BREAKING: Harris County leaders addressing two confirmed cases of coronavirus in NW Harris County. Says the two were a part of a group that traveled to Egypt. One is a Rice Univ employee. Judge Hidalgo says they expect to see more positive cases 😟 https://abc13.com/health/coronavirus-arrives-in-harris-county-first-2-cases-confirmed/5988320/ 

Coronavirus arrives in Harris County: First 2 cases confirmed

The virus sickened a man and a woman in a part of the county that’s outside of Houston, officials said.

abc13.com

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Rice offered a statement concerning the trip involving the positive case:

Rice University

@RiceUniversity

Harris County Public Health notified Rice officials this afternoon that the university employee who was self-quarantined tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

Link to full statement: https://bit.ly/3cBQY6H 

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While the county confirmed its first cases, the city of Houston’s health department maintained Thursday that it does not have any cases of COVID-19.

Fort Bend County officials said a man from Stafford, who is in his 70s, has a case of the virus. That person recently traveled abroad and is currently hospitalized and stable. The man visited his doctor after experiencing symptoms, officials added.

WATCH: Fort Bend County officials confirm coronavirus with “presumptive positive” case

Stafford Fire Department said nothing has been confirmed by the CDC and they responded to a call of a person having “difficulty breathing.”

 

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The Fort Bend County case is the first positive test result for COVID-19 in Texas outside of the passengers returned under federal quarantine from Wuhan City, China or the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

According to DSHS, the test was performed at the public health lab in Houston and will be confirmed by testing at the CDC.

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The county also released the following list of precautions you can take to keep you and your family safe.

 

  • Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs. If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first.
  • Practice healthy hygiene habits every day to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. Remember to wash your hands after coughing or sneezing.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

READ MORE: No masks but here are 100+ products that may help protect you against novel coronavirus germs

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