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Muskingum County Resident Tests Positive for COVID-19
By: Aaron Payne
Posted on:
ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WOUB) — A resident of Muskingum County has been reported to be the first in the county to test positive for COVID-19.
The Muskingum County Joint Unified Command Center announced the positive test belonged to a 48-year-old man resident of the county who had recently traveled out of state. He is now hospitalized.
No additional personal information about the Muskingum County case will be released in order to protect personal privacy following HIPAA regulations, according to the Thursday, March 26 release.
Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department (ZMCHD) staff is following the guidelines regarding any infectious disease and will work to identify and notify any close contacts who may have been exposed to positive COVID-19 cases.
Health officials urged people that if they are sick, stay at home and isolate yourself from other people until you have experienced no symptoms for at least 72 hours. If symptoms become severe, it is asked that your healthcare provider is called.
The Ohio Department of Health confirmed 867 positive cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, March 26 at 2 p.m.
The DOH makes the following recommendations to protect yourself from illness:
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; dry hands with a clean towel or air dry hands.
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are unavailable.
- Cover your mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
Ohio’s coronavirus call center is open to answer questions from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The hotline number is 1-833-4-ASK-ODH or 1-833-427-5634. More information is available at coronavirus.ohio.gov.