LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Rafael Benavides,

 LAREDO, Texas—The City of Laredo is confirming a second positive case of COVID-19 in the community. The patient was confirmed positive on March 20 by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Laboratory Response Network (LRN) in San Antonio.

The patient, which will be referred to as Patient 2, was identified as being in contact with the first confirmed COVID-19 case, Patient 1, and has been monitored by the City of Laredo Health Department and has been quarantined since March 17, 2020.

Patient 2 presented mild symptoms and was tested for COVID-19 via contact tracing.  Patient 2 has not traveled to any affected area and is considered to be another case of community transmission. The patient will continue to be monitored by the Health Department in quarantine.

Patient 2 is an employee at both the Hillside Recreation Center , working in an afterschool program at Blas Castañeda Recreational Center, and is also an employee at Laredo I.S.D. All students, staff and families have been contacted both by the City of Laredo and Laredo I.S.D. advising them of this situation and have been provided contact information to address their questions and concerns.

The City of Laredo is aware of a potential third case of COVID-19 in Laredo. The case involves a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer and is believed to be travel-related. The individual is in quarantine and continues to be monitored. No further information is available at this time.

The Health Department continues to investigate and monitor all potentially-exposed persons. At this time, Laredo has tested 45 individuals, resulting in 15 negatives and two positives. Results for the other 28 tests are currently pending.

Laredo is currently under an order from both Governor Greg Abbott and Mayor Pete Saenz to stay in their homes and practice good hygiene and social distancing. Essential infrastructure and services remain open.