Potential COVID-19 patient admitted to ECRMC
EL CENTRO — A day after public health officials in Riverside County confirmed the first locally acquired case of COVID-19, a patient here is being tested for the virus.
El Centro Regional Medical Center announced Sunday that a patient has met criteria for testing for the COVID-19 in Imperial Valley. The patient, a female in her 70s, came to the hospital’s emergency room Sunday morning with a complaint of side pain. The patient had recently returned from Florida, the hospital said.
“We promptly followed established protocols by CDPH and CDC, and the patient was masked and isolated,” ECRMC said in a release.
The hospital said its staff followed proper protocols by immediately contacting the hospital’s infection prevention nurse who then contacted the Imperial County Public Health Department.
Staff from the ICPHD provided a test kit that was used on the patient, and then sent to an approved lab for testing. Results of the test will be available within 48 hours.
No further information about the patient will be provided at this time, the new release stated. The hospital was scheduled to hold a press conference at 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
“Last week local county officials declared a local health emergency in response to the COVID-19 virus, although at the time there were no known cases of the disease in the county, but the declaration does help mobilize resources when needed” Dr. Adolphe Edward, chief executive officer at ECRMC, said. “This action, and the action of our staff on Friday to inspect emergency equipment, prepares ECRMC to quickly respond to this disease.”
Both ECRMC and Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley are following isolation precautions and limiting visitors. Those precautions started last week.
Meanwhile, County of Riverside Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser on Sunday declared a local health emergency in that county a day after the first locally acquired case of COVID-19 was announced there.
The individual, who is not being identified because of confidentiality rules, tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently undergoing care at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage. Public Health is following up on people who may have been exposed and an investigation is in progress to determine how the individual contracted COVID-19.
This is the second case overall recorded in Riverside County; a former cruise ship passenger from Riverside County was diagnosed with COVID-19 recently and is recovering at a Northern California medical facility. That individual has not returned to
Riverside County since leaving the cruise ship.
“We have always known this was a possibility,” Kaiser said of the first locally acquired case. “We have been planning for weeks and are prepared to take the necessary steps to protect the health of our local community.”
Lee Rice, public information officer for Eisenhower, said: “Eisenhower Health is currently treating a patient who is considered a presumptive positive for coronavirus after testing by Riverside County Public Health. The patient is in isolation and Eisenhower staff have taken appropriate precautions in the treatment of this patient.
No further information about the patient will be provided at this time.
“We ask the community to remember that Eisenhower’s medical professionals treat patients with infectious diseases every day and are prepared to care for our community members. Eisenhower continues to work closely with Riverside County Public Health, California Department of Public Health and within CDC guidelines.”
Earlier this week, Riverside County
officials activated a medical health department operations center to better coordinate public messaging and planning among community partners as Riverside County officials prepare for the spread of the illness.
“We are trained and prepared to respond to these situations. We have been in communication with hospitals and healthcare providers in Riverside County and have provided them with the information and resources they need. Protecting the health of Riverside County remains our top priority,” said Kim Saruwatari, public health director.