GA Rep. In Self-Quarantine After Possible Coronavirus Exposure

GEORGIA — Ga. Rep. Doug Collins (R-Gainesville) has imposed a self-quarantine after coming into contact with a person who later tested positive for COVID-19 at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland.

Collins said Monday that he was notified by the Conservative Political Action Conference that they found a photo of him and a patient who has tested positive for coronavirus.

"While I am not experiencing any symptoms, I have decided to self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution," Collins said.

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President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence both attended CPAC, but the American Conservative Union said neither were exposed to the new coronavirus by the ill person.

"This attendee had no interaction with the President or Vice President and never attended events in the main hall," the American Conservative Union said in a statement.

Still, the Maryland Department of Health is encouraging CPAC attendees to take their temperature twice a day and contact a healthcare provider if they develop a fever higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or a respiratory illness.

"Due to the scale of this conference, we are urging attendees who are experiencing flu-like symptoms to immediately reach out to their health care provider," Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement Saturday. "We are providing this update not to unnecessarily raise alarm, but in the interest of full transparency and out of an abundance of caution."

More Potential GA Coronavirus Cases Brings Total To 7

The Georgia Department of Public Health is awaiting confirmatory testing on the four new presumptive positive tests for COVID-19 in the Georgia residents. Testing was completed Sunday at the Georgia Public Health Laboratory and the results have been submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for verification.

One person is from Fulton County, another person is from Cherokee County, and the other two individuals are from Cobb County, but they have no connection to each other. All the individuals are hospitalized, and the sources of their infections are not known, the Georgia Department of Public Health.

With the addition of these four presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, there are now seven presumptive positives pending confirmatory testing by CDC and six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia.

The most recent confirmed cases were in Cobb, Fulton and Floyd counties, while a sixth case in Gwinnett County is presumed positive for the respiratory disease, but still awaiting confirmation.

Globally, more than 111,000 people have been infected and nearly 3,900 people have died from the new coronavirus, Johns Hopkins reported Monday morning. Of that total, more than 80,000 confirmed cases are in China, while the entire United States has 566 confirmed cases as of Monday morning. There have been 22 deaths in the U.S. have been tied to the virus outbreak.

A total of 34 Georgians and other Americans aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship currently quarantined off the coast of California due to the new coronavirus will be transferred to an airbase in Marietta, Georgia, according to Gov. Brian Kemp.

"These passengers will undergo testing and be quarantined for possible exposure to COVID-19, Kemp said in a statement released on Sunday. "They are expected to arrive at Dobbins late Monday, March 9 or early Tuesday, March 10."

The Dobbins Air Reserve Base is located at 1291 Cobb Parkway, which is some 20 miles northwest of Atlanta.

There is no evidence of community spread of coronavirus in Georgia at this time, health officials said.

Read More:

• Fulton Schools Closed; Employee Tests Positive For Coronavirus
• 3rd Possible Coronavirus Case Is Woman Turned Away From Hospital
• 3 More GA Coronavirus Cases Confirmed, 1 Test Pending
• GA Issues New Coronavirus Guidelines For Schools
• GA School Shuts Down After Positive Coronavirus Test: District

• Watch Out For Coronavirus Scams, Georgia Officials Warn
• Kroger Issues Limit On Flu Medicine And Hand Sanitizer
• Starbucks Takes Steps To Avoid Coronavirus Spread In Atlanta
• 3 More GA Coronavirus Cases Confirmed, 1 Test Pending
• Passengers On Cruise Ship Hit By Coronavirus Headed To Georgia

Prevent the Spread of Illness

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the best way to prevent infection with any respiratory virus is to use the same preventive strategies used during a normal cold and flu season:

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

"If you have recently traveled to areas where there are ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 and you develop fever with cough and shortness of breath within 14 days of your travel, or if you have had contact with someone who is suspected to have COVID-19, stay home and call your health care provider or local health department right away," the Department of Public Health said. "Be sure to call before going to a doctor's office, emergency room, or urgent care center and tell them about your recent travel and symptoms."

For information about COVID-19, visit the Department of Public Health or CDC.