Second case of coronavirus in Grant County

GRANT COUNTY - A second Grant County resident has been tested positive for the coronavirus, according to county health officials.

The Grant County Health District is reporting that a male Quincy resident in his 60s has tested positive and is in isolation, though they are not experiencing severe illness. He has been linked to the first patient in Grant County, a male Quincy resident in his 80s who died last week.

Additionally, a third patient from south Grant County has been hospitalized and is under investigation as a “probable” case. This patient, a male resident in his 40s, traveled out of the country prior to falling ill, according to the health district.

“Staff are working overtime to identify and call all those who had close contact with these two individuals to ensure proper quarantines are in place and prevent others from being infected,” the health district wrote in a press release. “However, we expect additional cases will be confirmed in our communities.”

Federal, state and local officials are encouraging residents to take all possible precautions to prevent further spread of the potentially deadly disease.

“Anyone staying home from work when sick or telecommuting, cancelling events or modifying business operations to minimize the spread of this virus is doing their civic duty and should be commended by the rest of us. The only way we will stop this pandemic is by separating ourselves from each other and by following simple hygiene and cough etiquette techniques” Dr. Brzezny, Grant County Health Officer, stated in the press release.