The University of Kansas Hospital says it has admitted a patient with COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.
The patient is in a specially-equipped area to prevent the spread of the virus to other patients, staff, physicians and visitors, according to a news release.
The hospital will hold a news conference at noon Monday to answer questions about the protocols for care but said in a statement it would not provide any details about the patient’s identity.
Over the weekend, Kansas health officials announced that a Johnson County woman was the state’s first case of the new coronavirus. She appears to have contracted her illness while traveling in the northeast United States. More than 80 other people in Kansas are being monitored for the infection because they have traveled to countries where the virus is spreading rapidly.
It is unclear if the patient admitted to KU is the woman confirmed to have the new coronavirus over the weekend.
People who are experiencing symptoms – which include fever, coughing and shortness of breath – should contact their local health department. Most cases of the new coronavirus are mild, and patients can self-isolate at home. More serious cases can require hospitalization.