Fire And Rescue Worker Self-Quarantines After Coronavirus Contact

LDOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A member of the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System came into contact with a person outside of Loudoun County who has since tested positive for the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, the county said Sunday. The Loudoun Fire and Rescue System member, who is not showing any symptoms of illness, has been self-quarantined since learning of the person testing positive for COVID-19 Saturday morning.

The member "poses no threat to Loudoun County residents or fellow first responders," the county said. The system said it does not plan on releasing any details about the member to protect the individual's privacy. No confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in Loudoun County.

Loudoun County government officials said they are working with regional and state officials to coordinate communications and handle the situation. They did not say where the Loudoun Fire and Rescue member came into contact with the person or whether the person is one of the two people in Virginia who has tested positive.

State and local health officials confirmed Sunday that two people in Virginia have tested positive for the coronavirus. A Marine who recently returned to the United States after traveling overseas for official business and a Fairfax City man who had been on a Nile River cruise are the first two confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the state. The Marine and the Fairfax City man received their coronavirus results on Saturday.

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Currently, the Marine is being treated at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. Officials are attempting to determine who the Fairfax City man has been in contact with upon his return from the cruise. Based on initial investigiations, the man, who is in his 80s, has had limited contact with others and the impact on the local community "remains low," officials said Sunday at a news conference. The officials did not disclose where the Fairfax City man is receiving treatment.

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will receive a briefing at 5 p.m. Wednesday on how the county is preparing and responding to the global coronavirus outbreak. The special board meeting will be held at the Loudoun County Government Center.

Dr. David Goodfriend, Loudoun County's director of health, will brief the county board on the novel coronavirus and actions being taken in the county to control the coronavirus' impact in the community.

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