Local Health Update on Coronavirus

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – As of today, there are no cases of Coronavirus in Nueces County. In the state of Texas, there are five federally quarantined cases that are being monitored at the Lackland Airforce Base in San Antonio. The Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District recommends that you call the Health District at 361-826-7200, before going to the doctor’s office if you have recently travelled to China, other highly infected areas, or been exposed to someone diagnosed with Coronavirus. The symptoms for Coronavirus include:

•           Fever, Cough, and Shortness of breath

The incubation period is two to 14 days after exposure to the virus and during that time the virus can be spread between person to person. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that the best tools to prevent Coronavirus infection are these everyday actions:

•           Wash your hands often

•           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, throw the tissue in the trash and wash your   hands again

•           Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

The Health District has recently hired a new Local Health Authority, Dr. Srikanth Ramachandruni. Dr. Ramachandruni is board certified in Infectious Disease and has been practicing in Corpus Christi since 2017. He has replaced Dr. William Burgin who recently retired from the Health District in January 2020.

The Health District is communicating with the Texas Department of State Health Services daily as well as CDC on a weekly basis. The communication efforts are crucial for staying up to date with these new and interim CDC guidelines that are evolving constantly. The Health District is meeting with local partners to review emergency plans and update them on the guidelines. Discussions are being held on good hygiene and social distancing practices to maintain operational continuity in the workforce.

Stay informed with the latest information at www.dshs.texas.gov/Coronavirus or www.cdc.gov.

This is a rapidly evolving situation and information is being updated as it becomes available.

For more information, contact Annette Rodriguez, Director of Public Health, at 361-826-7200 or by email at annetter@cctexas.com.