Watch CBS News

Health Officials Announce First Presumptive Positive Coronavirus Case In Camden County

CAMDEN COUNTY, N.J. (CBS) -- Health officials announced Friday the first presumptive positive case of coronavirus in Camden County. The Camden County Health Department says the man in his 60s is currently being quarantined and treated at Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital. He is in stable condition.

Camden County health officials say the patient is a resident of Camden County but would not confirm what town he lives in.

They also would not say whether he traveled outside of the United States to an area impacted by coronavirus or was around someone who was infected.

Camden County Health Officer Dr. Paschal Nwako says the risk to the general population of Camden County is low.

"We know that the citizens are anxious about the situation, but we are here to let them know that we are prepared and that we are doing all we can at this time to make sure that the patient is stable and to make sure the citizens are not in any danger," Nwako said.

This is the first presumed positive COVID-19 case in South Jersey. There are already three other presumptive coronavirus cases in North Jersey. Health officials announced a fourth presumptive positive case in the state Friday night.

They say a man in his 50s has been hospitalized at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in Bergen County.

What You Need To Know: Latest Coronavirus Information From Pennsylvania, New Jersey And Delaware Health Departments

The presumed positive result in Camden County is being submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation testing.

Camden County health officials are working with the New Jersey Health Department to trace the patient's close contacts and to take additional public health actions as needed.

Officials say they are not recommending closing down any schools in Camden County.

Anne Walters, the director for the county's Department of Health and Human Services, says they have been preparing for this.

"This is not the time to panic," Walters said.

An infection prevention doctor at Virtua Health says New Jersey is not testing many patients who show up to the hospital sick.

"They have to meet a fairly rigid criteria for testing. So it's really not going to be helpful to just show up in an emergency room," Dr. Martin Topiel said.

Topiel walked Eyewitness News through some of the criteria that would require coronavirus testing in the state.

"One of the main criteria is unexplained illness where people are very sick, where they require hospitalization, may even require ventilators, and most people don't fall into that category," he said.

Also Friday, Pennsylvania announced there are two presumed positive coronavirus cases in the state.

CBS3's Kimberly Davis contributed to this report.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.