NORTH CAROLINA, USA — A person in North Carolina is in isolation after North Carolina identified its first case of coronavirus Tuesday.
The test was conducted by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health and will be confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lab.
The CDC's website breaks down the difference between isolation and quarantine.
Isolation separates sick people with a "quarantinable communicable disease" from people who aren't sick.
Quarantine restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they get the illness, according to the CDC's website.
The CDC says there are laws and guidelines people in quarantine are required to follow. If they don't, they could face fines or jail time.
The order says those who are quarantined must cooperate with the requirements to protect the public's health.
A link to the full quarantine order can be found here.
State health leaders said the person in North Carolina is doing well and is in isolation at their home. They are checking in with the person on a daily basis to monitor their symptoms.
“I know that people are worried about this virus, and I want to assure North Carolinians our state is prepared,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “Our task force and state agencies are working closely with local health departments, health care providers and others to quickly identify and respond to cases that might occur.”
FACTS NOT FEAR
Remember facts, not fear when talking about the coronavirus. You should take the same measures recommended by health leaders to prevent the spread of the flu and other viruses. That means washing your hands, avoiding touching your face, and covering coughs and sneezes.
WHERE YOU GET INFORMATION ABOUT CORONAVIRUS IS IMPORTANT
It is important to make sure the information you are getting about the coronavirus is coming directly from reliable sources like the CDC and NCDHHS. Be careful not to spread misinformation about coronavirus on social media.
NC CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE
The state also has a special hotline set up where you can call 866-462-3821 for more information on the coronavirus. You can also submit questions online at ncpoisoncontrol.org or select chat to talk with someone about the virus.
You can also text keyword VIRUS to WFMY News 2 at 336-379-5775 to find out more information.