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Brown County announces first confirmed case of COVID-19

The patient is a woman in her 60s, had limited community contact and is quarantined and isolated. Brown County said the case is a result of international travel.
Credit: FOX West Texas

BROWN COUNTY, Texas — The Brownwood/ Brown County Health Department Wednesday confirmed a case of COVID-19 in Brown County.

The confirmed case was a result of international travel, a press release from the City of Brownwood said.

The patient is a woman in her 60s with limited community contact. She is currently quarantined and isolated. The epidemiologist at the health department will investigate the case with more information to follow. 

“We have started to identified close contacts of the patient, who may have been exposed, and will take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Lisa Dick, Brownwood/Brown County Health Department health administrator, said in the release.

The Brown County Health Department has set up two hotline numbers for questions. Anyone with symptoms similar to that of coronavirus is asked to call 325-642-2635 or 325-430-5933.

Beginning Wednesday, March 18, calls will be taken until 10 p.m. Beginning Thursday, March 19, calls will be taken from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. A health department employee will answer questions and if necessary, perform a health screening over the phone. Should anyone need a higher level of care, the employee will direct them.

The purpose of phone screenings is to reduce the congestion of medical facilities and allow social distancing. The City of Brownwood is asking residents to be patient if not directly connected, it will answer calls in the order they are received.

Anyone planning on seeking a physician's care is asked to call before arrival. 

The City of Brownwood, Brownwood/Brown County Health Department, Brownwood Regional Medical Center, Texas Department of State and Health Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are closely working together to provide the community with the best health practices, the release said. 

“While we hoped this moment wouldn’t come, it was something we have prepared for,” Mayor Stephen Haynes said in a statement. “At this point, we do not have a case of community spread. It’s important that we all work together to limit the spread of this event.”

Haynes said the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department has been preparing for local cases. 

At this time no additional information is available regarding the patient, according to the release.

The City of Brownwood has set up brownwoodtexas.gov/health as an online portal with up-to-date information regarding the confirmed COVID-19 case, and additional preventative measures.

Additional information will be posted to brownwoodtexas.gov/health as it becomes available. 

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