Coronavirus in Forrest County: Mississippi man fell ill after flight home from Florida

Three people have been tested for coronavirus with negative results at Forrest General Hospital after one man tested positive on Wednesday, hospital officials said at a news conference Thursday.

The man who tested positive recently had traveled to south Florida for vacation. He and a companion had returned on a flight Monday.

The man later felt ill and contacted the hospital, where staff were prepared to see him, giving him a mask and gloves before he entered the hospital to avoid potential contamination.

The companion reported to another medical facility in a similar manner. That person's test results are not yet known.

The man is self-quarantined at home, where he is doing well, hospital officials said.

Dr. Steve Farrell, chief medical officer with Forrest Health, said self-quarantine is a very effective way of preventing the spread of coronavirus.

"If he's in his house and no one comes around him, he can't make anybody sick," he said.

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Hospital staff would not disclose where the two may have gone before reporting to to the hospital, but said it appears the places were limited to travel and for treatment.

The hospital reported Mississippi's first case of coronavirus on Wednesday.

Although state health officials are asking people to avoid mass gatherings of 250 people or more, local medical professionals are taking precautions even further.

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Residents in the Pine Belt are encouraged to avoid public gatherings as much as possible, they said.

"If you're not ill, you don't have to avoid living your life," said Dr. Rambod Rouhbakhsh, assistant director of the family medicine residency program at Forrest General Hospital. "But when this thing spreads, it spreads because we pass it from one to another.

"If we were here just to chit chat, we probably shouldn't be having (the news conference) like this."

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Rouhbakhsh said people should be judicious of where they go and what they do, to avoid unnecessary contact with the virus or, if infected, spread it to others.

"Be wise for when you need to gather. Is there a purpose for this?" he said. "Is there a business purpose that is substantial to your business? Is it a public health purpose? Otherwise you don't need to go and congregate in places where you have the potential to spread the disease."

The elderly and those with underlying and chronic health issues that especially affect the respiratory tract need to take extra precautions, he said.

"We're really asking elderly people to avoid mass gatherings," Rouhbakhsh said, including going to church. "Do not go to church. Do not go to mass gatherings unless is is absolutely necessary."

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Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker and Forrest County Supervisor David Hogan also are asking people to avoid mass gatherings.

Barker said at the news conference he has been asking organizations that have events planned over the next few weeks where they may expect 250 or more to consider canceling or postponing.

To find a list and other information about the city's measures regarding coronavirus, visit hattiesburgms.com/coronavirus.

The city also is contacting area churches to work with them on alternatives to in-person gatherings.

"We've begun conversations with pastors, letting them know to communicate this to their parishioners and many of them are looking at alternative was of worship, such as broadcasting something online," Barker said.

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He said the preparation for the onset began long before the first positive diagnosis was reported.

"Yes this is a challenge," he said. "Yes this will inconvenience us, but we are not strangers to tough situations in this community."

Rouhbakhsh said children, because they are generally in good health, are less susceptible to the effects of the virus.

"Which is a good thing," he said.

K-12 school officials have not reported any cancellations for students, even though state colleges and universities are extending spring break and moving to online classes temporarily.

"We are not recommending school closures at this time," State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs said Thursday afternoon at an event at William Carey University. "We don't have any intent to cancel schools. There are a lot of ripple effects when you cancel school. Where are those kids going to go? What are those parents going to do?"

American staff photographer Cam Bonelli contributed to this story.

Contact Lici Beveridge at 601-584-3104 or lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.