Metro Health Confirms Second Travel-Related Coronavirus Case

The Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) is currently investigating a second confirmed travel-related positive COVID-19 case. The individual recently traveled to Japan and had a history of underlying health issues that placed them at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19. This brings the number of travel-related COVID-19 cases in San Antonio to two.

A detailed contact tracing investigation for this individual is already taking place and the information will be shared with the public when it is complete. The individual is receiving treatment. This confirmed case of COVID-19 is not a community-spread case. A community-spread case indicates that infection has been spread from a person who did not have exposure to the illness or a travel history.

Patients should seek medical care from their primary care physicians or urgent care providers if they do not have a primary care physician. Patients should not contact Metro Health directly to request testing as a health care provider must order the test. Patients should not go to emergency rooms to seek COVID-19 testing.

1. Patient shows fever or signs/symptoms of lower respiratory illness such as cough or shortness of breath and the patient has had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19
2. Patient shows fever and signs/symptoms of a lower respiratory illness and significant respiratory illness, such as the flu, has been ruled out and the patient has risk factors that place them at a high risk of poor health outcomes or the patient is a health care worker or first responder
3. Patient shows severe acute respiratory illness such as pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome, which requires hospitalization and has a negative flu diagnosis and no source of COVID-19 exposure has been identified

Metro Health extends COVID-19 hotline hours

Metro Health has extended the hours of its COVID-19 hotline. The hotline is available in English and Spanish. Residents can call210-207-5779. Hotline hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.