Officials confirm 15th U.S. case of coronavirus infection in San Antonio

Health officials say the woman was evacuated from China to the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and is currently under federal quarantine since her return to the U.S.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Officials have confirmed another case of coronavirus infection in the U.S. and this latest one is a U.S. evacuee from China in Texas.

Health officials say the woman was evacuated from China to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and is currently under federal quarantine since her return to the U.S.

The patient is reportedly in stable condition and is in isolation at a nearby hospital. The Associated Press reports that officials say the infection was confirmed through laboratory testing on Wednesday night.

"There may be additional cases that we identify and I do want to prepare you for that,” said Capt. Jennifer McQuiston with the CDC.

The coronavirus containment plan includes a deep cleaning of the woman's room on the base-and the vehicle used for her ride to Methodist Hospital | Texsan in San Antonio.

"This is a special infectious disease ambulance, it is dedicated to this event throughout, it will not be used on the streets of San Antonio,” said San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood.

The woman is being cared for in a special medical isolation room.

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Health officials are working to determine if the woman with the virus - had any contact with the other evacuees. A spokesperson for the CDC told FOX7 the exposure risk most likely did not occur on the flight to Texas, because the woman did not become contagious until after the fever set in. There are 90 other people still in quarantine at the airbase. Those who do not get sick are scheduled to be released next Thursday. Life behind the fence, as it was described, remains very limited.

"For the most part the people who are under quarantine are not doing much associating with each other, they're staying with their families, in their rooms, they are a little suspicious of each other, starting to get to know each other but all of the activities that we have where we announce new information they are all outdoors so that there is less of a chance of spread when you are not doing those things indoors. And they staying strong,” said Capt. McQuiston.

This is the 15th confirmed U.S. case and officials say the case does not change the risk of infection for people in San Antonio or other parts of Texas because the patient has been under quarantine. The risk for Texans remains low.

The Centers for Disease Control and the City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District held a news conference to talk about the confirmed case and provide more details on COVID-19, the deadly coronavirus that's infected tens of thousands and killed more than 1,000 people worldwide.

China on Thursday reported 254 new daily deaths and a spike in daily viral cases after new methodology was applied in the hardest hit province of Hubei as to how cases are categorized.

San Antonio officials also say that some residents not under quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland are under self-quarantine at their own homes.

Officials say the system put in place worked exactly to protect the patient and prevent spreading of COVID-19 to others in quarantine, base personnel and the general public.

To prevent COVID-19, officials urge the following: