SOLANO COUNTY, Calif. — Two health care workers for NorthBay VacaValley Hospital are presumptive-positive for the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, health officials confirmed.
In a joint news release from Alameda County and Solano County Public Health Departments, they identified one worker as a Solano County resident and the other as an Alameda County resident who both had contact with the community-acquired coronavirus case currently hospitalized at UC Davis Medical Center.
Both health care workers are in isolation at home, and their cases are pending confirmatory testing from the Centers for Disease Control, officials said.
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“As always, our top priority is the health and safety of our patients, our staff, physicians and the community,” said Aimee Brewer, president of NorthBay HealthCare Group. “Our two health care workers who tested positive have been in isolation at home since the day we learned they had contact with the patient who had contracted the virus. We took immediate and comprehensive measures intended to stop any further spread of the virus, including working with public health officials to trace the contacts the two workers may have had. We remain in close contact with national, state and local public health authorities to ensure we are following the most up-to-date protocols and procedures for dealing with this evolving situation.”
Health officials said all health and hospital staff who were in contact with the case being treated at UC Davis were identified, remain in isolation or quarantine, and won't return to patient care until they're cleared.
However, health officials said that additional coronavirus cases among that group could occur.
“We understand that the evolving news about COVID-19 is concerning, and we are taking the situation very seriously,” said Dr. Erica Pan, Health Officer, Alameda County Public Health Department. “This news is not unexpected in the Bay Area, and we are ready for cases here. This is not the time to panic; now is the time for all of us to work together.” Dr. Pan said.
An investigation is underway to find and evaluate anyone potentially exposed to the new health care worker cases. Anyone potentially exposed is in the process of being identified and evaluated, health officials said.
Both Alameda County and Solano County Public Health Departments are monitoring the new cases' conditions and their contacts for symptoms.
Officials say health care organizations, government entities, schools and employers should plan for how they can best decrease the spread of illness and lower the impact of coronavirus. Officials say more coronavirus cases are expected in the Bay Area and nationwide.
Alameda County is declaring a local public health emergency as part of it's response and preparation for the community spread in their county.