BELFAST — A nurse at Waldo County General Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19. The nurse is self-isolated at home. All patients who came in contact with the nurse have been notified, and the hospital is following U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines with respect to tracing her contacts within the hospital, according to a March 24 news release from the hospital.

“Waldo County General Hospital is committed to the health and wellbeing of our team members and those who rely on us for care,” said Mark Fourre, MD, president of Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital, in the release.  “We have spoken with our colleagues who work with this team member and are actively tracing patient and care team member interactions per CDC guidelines. We continue to take a high level of precaution, guided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to protect our workforce and our patients.”

Fourre said in the release that as numbers of cases grow in Maine, “it’s anticipated that additional COVID-19 cases in the community will follow.”

“Our top priorities will continue to be the wellbeing of every care team member and the health of our communities,” he said, in the release.

Most cases of COVID-19 infection bring flu-like symptoms that are mild to moderate and can be treated at home, though in a percentage of cases, mostly involving older people or those with underlying health conditions, it can be serious, the release said. Patients concerned they may have contracted COVID-19 are urged to call ahead before presenting at a doctor’s office, clinic or an emergency department.

For more information about MaineHealth’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak go to: www.mainehealth.org/healthy-communities/coronavirus 

Waldo County General Hospital is part of MaineHealth, a nonprofit integrated health system consisting of eight local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and more than 1,600 employed and independent physicians working together through an Accountable Care Organization.

With more than 19,000 employees, MaineHealth is the largest health system in northern New England and provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. For more information, visit wcgh.org.