Tests on potential COVID-19 patient inconclusive

EL CENTRO — Inconclusive results from testing of a patient at El Centro Regional Medical Center suspected of having contracted novel coronavirus (COVID-19) means that it will likely be another day or two before the patient’s viral status is known. Meanwhile, the hospital has confirmed that another two patients are currently being tested for the virus as well.

The information was delivered at a press conference held at ECRMC’s Medical Office Building Tuesday evening.

ECRMC announced Sunday that a female patient in her 70s met criteria for testing for the COVID-19. The patient had recently returned from Florida.

“We have preliminary results that make us worried and therefore we’re doing further analysis and repeating tests both in San Diego and samples are being sent to the CDC in Atlanta. And then that will help us confirm whether this is really COVID or not,” said ECRMC’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Christian Tomeszewski.

The hospital said the patient’s family has been notified of the results, and the patient will continue to receive care at ECRMC in an isolation room until the new test results come back.

ECRMC CEO Dr. Adolphe Edward also confirmed two additional cases have passed through the emergency department that met the criteria for COVID-19 protocols. “That means we are collecting samples and they will be processed like we’re sharing today.”

It also means that, as it stands, no cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Imperial County to date.

Nevertheless, Dr. Tomeszewski, who is a professor of emergency medicine at the University of California, San Diego, observed the disease’s eventual presence here is inevitable. “You can run, but you can’t hide. COVID will come here, just as it has in almost every major city in the United States and in the world,” he said.

“The good news is, even if this case is not COVID, it means we are well prepared because we are going through and running our protocols. They’re running smoothly. Everything is working the way it should. And we’re not exposing you, the public and our health care professionals unnecessarily.”

Edward encouraged the public not to get caught up in rumors surrounding the situation. “I was told by a 14-yearold from one of the schools that the results are out and that she had the facts before us,” he said.

“That is not an appropriate thing.”

He stressed that, rather than rely on social media, the public should turn to credible sources for information on COVID-19, such as the Imperial County Public Health Department and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.