Coronavirus Oregon: Second Case In Washington County Diagnosed

PORTLAND, OR — A second person in Oregon has been diagnosed with the new coronavirus also known as Covid-19. Officials made the announcement on Sunday evening.

The person is described as a "household contact" of the person who was diagnosed on Friday. Both cases are identified as "presumptive" at this time as officials wait for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to release the results of their tests.

Officials say that the person is confined to their home and is not in need of medical attention at this time.

The first person diagnosed is an employee of Forest Hills Elementary School in Lake Oswego. That school is closed until Wednesday while it undergoes cleaning.

The lead medical officer for Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties, Dr. Jennifer Vines, says that officials are rushing to trace people that the second person was in contact with including people who may have been in the same place as them.

Dr. Vines said that the person who tested positive was one of nine who were tested on Sunday in Oregon and the only to come back positive.

Officials say that they anticipate more cases to be diagnosed in Oregon. They said that they do not believe an emergency declaration will be needed at this point.

The director of the Oregon Health Authority, Patrick Allen, says that state officials are working with local school districts on messaging, communication, and emergency preparation.

People who believe that they might have the virus are urged to call a doctor first before walking in to an office so that arrangements can be made to prepare to prevent the further spread.

There are currently 86 people in Oregon being monitored by health officials. Of those people, 19 people were considered to be "under investigation" because of contact with someone who is suspected of having the virus.

Officials want people to know that there is no need to worry about handling products or packages that arrived from China, saying it's not believed that the virus lives for more than a couple of hours on a surface.

Oregon currently has 1,500 test kits available and has been assured by the CDC that they will replenish kits that have been used. The state has the ability to conduct up to 80 tests each day but have not had to test anywhere close to that number so far.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.