First coronavirus-related death in Adams County reported Thursday

Adams County has had its first coronavirus-related death, the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed Thursday.

Adams County Coroner Pat Felix said a 93-year-old man who lived in a nursing home died. 

The man had underlying health issues, including cardiac and respiratory issues, prior to contracting the virus, Felix said. He had the virus only a few days.

Felix would not release information about where the nursing home is so as to not give away the identity of the deceased.

Adams County has reported 38 total cases of the virus.

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Coronavirus in Adams County

The first positive test of coronavirus in the county was announced on March 19. Within two days, that number rose to four.

At the time, the number of cases in Pennsylvania was 371. Now, the state's total is 18,228 with 338 deaths.

A Declaration of Disaster Emergency went into effect by the Adams County Board of Commissioners on March 18. The declaration states that "emergency management measures are necessary to reduce the severity of this disaster and to protect the health, safety and welfare of affected residents in Adams County." 

To help mitigate the spread of the virus, schools, government offices and many businesses have closed to the public.

Adams County government offices will remain closed through May 3.

The Adams County Department of Emergency Services is asking that any business, industry or individual that has surplus Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as n95 masks, face shields, gloves and gowns, and is willing to donate them to Adams County first responders, please contact DES Director Warren Bladen at 717-334-8603.

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Gettysburg 

The Gettysburg borough building is closed and meetings have been canceled until April 27. Borough residents can sign-up for emergency alerts on the borough's website.  

Gettysburg College started teaching courses virtually on March 23. The school is receiving phone calls from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 717-337-8800.

Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center, David Wills House and Eisenhower Historic site are closed to the public. The battlefield, trails, park roads, National Cemetery and comfort stations will all remain open.

Adams County COVID-19 testing 

There are three coronavirus testing sites in Adams County:

• Wellspan Health in Fairfield, 4910 Fairfield Rd.
• Wellspan Health in Gettysburg, 147 Gettys St. and 40 V-Twin Dr.

Understanding the coronavirus, symptoms, what to do

There is currently neither a vaccine nor an approved treatment for the new, or novel, coronavirus.

According to the CDC, reported illnesses from COVID-19 have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. 

Fever, cough and shortness of breath might appear 2 to 14 days after you've been exposed to the virus. 

If you think you've been exposed to the coronavirus and develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your primary healthcare provider immediately. 

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With further spread of the virus and disruptions to everyday life expected, officials remind residents to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

You should also cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow (not your hands), clean surfaces that are frequently touched (such as countertops, light switches and phones), and stay home if you are sick.  

While younger people may experience the illness as a bad cold with a fever, the concern is that older people and those who have additional medical conditions will develop a more severe form of COVID-19.

As the disease spreads widely in the population, that could lead to a high number of patients requiring hospitalization for pneumonia or acute lung problems that require the use of a ventilator to breathe, as well as death.

Mariana Veloso is a Quality of Life reporter for the USA Today Network - Pennsylvania. Veloso focuses primarily on the opioid epidemic in southcentral PA, along with coverage of everyday issues in the Hanover area. If you have a story idea, you can email her at msveloso@eveningsun.com. Follow her on Twitter @MariVeloso9 to stay up to date with her latest articles.