Possible coronavirus case reported in Dallas, but public health office won't confirm

Jan. 31--FORT WORTH -- Dallas County's public health office is refusing to confirm a report that a patient at Parkland Memorial Hospital is being tested for coronavirus.

The suspected case was originally reported by The Dallas Morning News, which attributed the information to an assistant city manager. That city manager didn't respond to a Star-Telegram request for information.

Also, Dallas County Health and Human Services spokeswoman Marisa Gonzales declined Friday afternoon to confirm that there was a suspected case at Parkland.

"We're working closely with all these local hospitals here in Dallas County, and it's a health code where they have to report it to us," she said in a phone interview. "Any positives, once we are informed, we will let people know. There are no positive reports to DCHHS as of today."

So far, 10 possible coronavirus cases have been reported in Texas, said Richard Hill, spokesman for Tarrant County Public Health. Of those, five have tested negative for the virus, and another five are still awaiting test results, he said.

"It's an almost constantly changing, evolving situation," Hill said.

___

(c)2020 the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Visit the Fort Worth Star-Telegram at www.star-telegram.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.