University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) officials confirmed that two healthcare employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting exposure concerns over the novel respiratory virus.
An official announcement was released by the university earlier Sunday that two healthcare workers have confirmed cases of COVID-19. Both workers are under self-quarantine, and UCSF is taking "every precaution" to thwart exposure to the virus, per SFGate and KRON4.
PLEASE SHARE: As #covid19 cases increase, each of us can work to help slow transmission in our communities. Protective measures help #FlattenTheCurve, so the total number of cases are spread over a longer time period, allowing hospitals to care for all who need it. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/xpdszvqerN
— UC San Francisco (@UCSF) March 14, 2020
“[UCSF is] taking every precaution to minimize the risk to other health care workers and patients," the statement reads, according to KRON4. "[And] we remain confident in the safety precautions our health care providers are taking.”
The university is said to be restricting visitors — and imposing certain visitation criteria — while also requiring health screenings for their employees.
One doctor at UCSF, in a now viral Facebook post picked up by ABC 7 and others, has said that he fully expects to contract COVID-19 himself, after he treated the first two COVID-19 cases to arrive in San Francisco — presumably he's referring to the San Benito County couple that were taken to UCSF Parnassus early last month.
"We are on the path to becoming the next Italy, and conditions there for both patients and health care providers are truly unimaginable," says Dr. Sajan Patel. "I'm accepting the hard reality that I won't be visiting my parents, brother, or seeing my wonderful nephew for months if not longer, but that is the sacrifice we all must make to hopefully slow down what's already coming very fast."
According to the San Francisco Department of Public Health, there are now 37 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the city; another 23 cases were reported in Santa Clara County — the original ground zero for the Bay Area's COVID-19 outbreak — earlier today, per Mercury News.
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