Trenton, NC – One additional case of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed positive in Jones County, for a total of three positive cases. The third individual, who is hospitalized at this time, was tested on Monday, April 6. Confirmation of this individual’s test results was forwarded to the Health Department on Wednesday, April 8. 

Jones County Health Department’s Communicable Disease staff are working at this time to conduct contact tracing to make sure everyone who came in close contact with these individuals is contacted. Close contact is anyone who was within six feet of the individual for 10 minutes or more. To protect the privacy of these individuals, no other identifying information will be released. 

For information about new or future COVID-19 confirmed cases, Jones County Health Department will update case counts daily on the Health Department’s website at www.jonescountyhealth.com/ and on the Health Department Facebook page. The Health Department will continue to issue press releases regarding operational changes, response and safety information regarding COVID-19. 

Community transmission does exist in North Carolina and we all should be practicing preventative measures to help reduce the spread of this virus. Preventative measures include frequently washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; staying home when you are sick; covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and discarding the tissue immediately; avoid touching your face with unwashed hands; and practicing social distancing. 

COVID-19 testing is available; however, mass testing is not a recommendation. At this time, the updated guidance recommends that testing is conducted for people that are: 1) seriously ill, such as those in a hospital or in a high risk setting like a long-term care facility or nursing home, and 2) health care workers and other first responders caring for those with more serious infection. 

People who have mild symptoms such as fever and cough without shortness of breath or difficulty breathing should stay home and call their health care provider for medical advice. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call “911.” 

For more information on the coronavirus, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html) and the North Carolina Division of Public Health Coronavirus call line (1-866-462-3821) or (https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/cd/diseases/COVID19.html). Jones County Health Department also is a source of information (252-448-9111) or http://www.jonescountyhealth.com/.