(KLZA)-- The Southeast District Health Department is reporting the first COVID-19 related death in the five-county district.
According to a release Tuesday, the individual is a female in her sixties who lived in Richardson County.
Meanwhile, the fifth positive case of the virus was confirmed Tuesday in Richardson County. The Health Department said the individual is a female in her 20's.
Community Medical Center, in Falls City, confirmed in a release that the individual is a staff member at the hospital who was previously placed under quarantine due to a known exposure.
The release says no other staff members have tested positive, and the hospital continues to monitor the situation closely.
Because of safety precautions in place and the quickness of the quarantine action, the release said it is not believed that the staff member posed a risk to patients.
Community Medical Center is working with physicians and the health department to make sure the situation remains under control.
Because individuals may be contagious for COVID-19 without feeling ill or showing symptoms, even with previously negative tests, CMC requires masks for all staff, patients and visitors in the hospital and recommends masks, hand washing and social distancing for anyone in public contact.
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