The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) is announcing a fifth case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Johnson County. The presumptive positive case was identified through testing sent to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Laboratories. These results will be verified by the CDC lab but will be treated as a positive unless determined otherwise.

The case is a female in her 50s associated with Johnson County Community College. This case is the first known case in Johnson County of local transmission. JCDHE is working to identify any close contacts of the individual. Those that were exposed will be contacted by JCDHE as soon as possible. The individual is hospitalized and doing well. The family of the individual is in quarantine.

“It is important to remember to take basic precautions like washing your hands, covering your cough and staying home when you are ill. The local transmission has been expected, most people with mild symptoms will recover in a short amount of time” states Mary Beverly, JCDHE interim director.

Stay informed. Information changes frequently. For more information visit www.cdc.gov/COVID19 or www.jocogov.org/coronavirus. Call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. or JCDHE’s information line at 913-477-8343.