COLUMBUS – The first case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Columbus, according to Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts.
UPDATE March 15 1:46 p.m.: Franklin Co. Public Health confirms two cases of COVID-19 outside of Columbus. City of Columbus Division of Fire reports one firefighter/EMT assigned to Fire Station 24 at Karl and Morse Roads tested positive for COVID-19. The firefighter, who became ill last week, has been isolated at their home and is under a physician’s care and 31 firefighters who had contact with the individual at the station are currently being evaluated.
The Ohio Department of Health call center is open 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to answer questions regarding COVID-19 at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
Click here for the latest information from the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The patient is a 49-year-old man who who had recently traveled on the Carnival cruise ship Valor, which departed from New Orleans on Feb. 29, traveled to Cozumel and the Yucatan in Mexico and returned on March 5, Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts said Saturday morning.
Roberts asked any central Ohio resident who was on this cruise to call 614-645-1519.
Prevent the spread of infectious disease by taking the following steps:
Wash your hands often with soap and water.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
-Source: Columbus Public Health
The man, whose name was not released, arrived back in Columbus on March 6, and started having symptoms on March 7.
He sought medical treatment on Wednesday and Roberts says he was tested Thursday.
She said she was notified of the positive test result Friday night.
The man is resting at home, two members of his household are also staying home and two other people who had contact with the patient and are exhibiting symptoms are being tested, Roberts said.
Health officials are trying to contact two other people who traveled with the patient, she said.
Currently, 54 people in Columbus and Worthington, the two cities under Columbus Public Health’s jurisdiction, are residents being tested for coronavirus, Roberts said.
The Columbus Board of Health Friday declared a local public health emergency.
The Columbus case was the only central Ohio case confirmed by the state.
The Ohio Health Department reports there are 26 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state and 264 cases are still being tested.
Cuyahoga County has been hardest hit with 11 cases, health director Dr. Amy Acton reported. Butler County has reported four cases,l. There are three in Stark County, two each in Belmont, Summit and Trumbull counties and one in in Franklin and Lorain counties.
Fourteen of the patients are men and 12 are women, health director Acton said. The ages of the patients range from 31 to 86 with a median age of 53.
The U.S. crisis has grown to 1,700 infections and 50 deaths.