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Bell County confirms second presumptive positive case of coronavirus

The COVID-19 tests are in the process of being confirmed by the CDC.

BELL COUNTY, Texas — The Bell County Public Health District (BCPH) has confirmed its second presumptive positive coronavirus case.

The county's first case was reported on March 12, and its second case four days later on March 16.

BCPH said the first person diagnosed with coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is a 29-year-old man in Belton, Texas. Health officials said the man traveled to Barcelona and Paris from March 4 to 10. He is currently in self-isolation.

The second person diagnosed with COVID-19 is a 70-year-old man who lives in the Belton extraterritorial jurisdiction, BCPH said. The man recently traveled to Europe and is now in self-isolation.

“This action is being taken in accordance with guidance from both the CDC and the Bell County Public Health District,” said Bell County Judge David Blackburn. “I urge event organizers to heed the recommendation and cancel or postpone events scheduled within the next eight weeks.”

There are currently six confirmed coronavirus cases in Austin-Travis County as of Monday morning. Austin health officials said these cases are not community spread, and encouraged the public not to "panic," but to practice personal hygiene.

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Bell County health officials said this case puts the county in Phase 2 of its plan.

The county's plan is as follows:

  • Stage 1 (no confirmed cases of COVID19)
    • Stay home if you are sick
    • Avoid contact with persons who are sick
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands
    • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw the tissue away
    • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces with a disinfectant
    • Don’t travel to areas with active community spread of COVID19
    • Wash your hands with soap and water regularly and use hand sanitizers with at least
    • 60% of alcohol content when soap and water are not available
  • Stage 2 (a confirmed case of COVID19)
    • All of Stage 1 measures
    • Actively practice ‘social distancing’ … whenever possible maintain 6 feet distance from
    • other persons
    • Avoid physical contact with other persons in social and workplace settings
  • Stage 3 (community spread of COVID19)
    • All Stage 1 & Stage 2 measures
    • Bell County &/or BCPHD may issue orders restricting and/or prohibiting mass gatherings and/or movement of people

The COVID-19 tests are in the process of being confirmed by the CDC.

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