Coronavirus Patient Had 'Weakly Positive' Result After Release

SAN ANTONIO, TX — A COVID-19 patient in San Antonio was released from quarantine by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and later placed back in, city officials said. According to the CDC, the patient received two negative results for the virus but a third test came back "weakly positive," so the patient was placed back in to quarantine.

The patient had returned from Wuhan, China on a State Department chartered flight and was in quarantine at Lackland Air Force base. While released from isolation, the patient went to North Star Mall and the Holiday Inn Airport, KSAT reported. However, officials believe the risk of exposure to the general public remains low, according to KSAT.

When the patient was discharged from the quarantine facility, they were asymptomatic, the CDC said. Health officials are working to identify anyone who may have had contact with the patient.

"It's important to remember that this is a new virus and we are learning more about it every day," health officials said. "The cycle of infection with COVID-19 is not yet well understood, but the amount of virus is typically highest when the person is sickest. As the illness resolved, the amount of virus falls."

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a statement that local officials are doing everything in their power to ensure the community is kept safe and the exposure risk remains low.

As the federal quarantine for the Diamond Princess cruise ship evacuees ends on Monday, Nirenberg said he asked the CDC to do everything in their power to ensure that those released pose no risk to the community.

In the U.S., there are now 43 confirmed and "presumptive positive" cases of the new coronavirus, which include cases of community spread, according to the latest data from the CDC. There have also been two deaths related to the new coronavirus, both in Washington. There are also 45 cases of the virus in evacuees of the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

Symptoms of the illness include fever, cough and shortness of breath. There is currently no vaccine for the virus and the CDC says the best way to prevent getting sick is to avoid being exposed to the virus by following preventive actions like washing hands, avoiding close contact with those who are sick and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Read more about prevention via the CDC.