An employee with Ritrama, an Italian company whose manufacturing plant for adhesive materials is located in Moore, has presumptively tested positive for the coronavirus. The employee returned from Italy on March 2 on a flight through Charlotte, WSPA reported.
DHEC reported the man showed symptoms on March 3 and the case reported on March 5. Ritrama employees, who have been in contact with the employee, are under self-quarantine and the facility will be sanitized with operations expected to resume Tuesday.
DHEC reported four presumptive positive cases were identified after testing for COVID-19 was completed at DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory. These are in addition to the two presumptive positive cases the agency announced on Friday (March 6). That brings the total number of presumptive positive cases to six.
Two of the four new cases are direct contacts (meaning close face-to-face contact) with the Camden elderly woman who was announced as a presumptive positive on March 6. One of these two individuals is a woman who has hospitalized for reasons unrelated to COVID-19 and is isolated at this time. The other individual, an elderly man, was temporarily admitted to a healthcare facility, was discharged, and is currently isolated at home.
The third new case is a woman from Camden with no known connection, at this time, to the other presumptive positive cases from Camden. She was evaluated at a healthcare facility, was not hospitalized and is currently isolated at home.
DHEC has tested a total of 18 individuals for COVID-19, which includes the six presumptive positives. The remaining tests are negative.
In line with CDC guidance, DHEC does not recommend closing schools or canceling public events at this time. DHEC will monitor absentee rates in schools and businesses as well as reports of illness in the community to determine if or when closures may be recommended.