Officials report 2nd coronavirus case in North Carolina

A man from Chatham County has become the second North Carolina native to be diagnosed with COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus.

The individual had traveled to Italy in late February, according to a news release from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The man, who experienced two days of mild flu-like symptoms in Italy, is doing well and staying in self-isolation at his home.

"Chatham County Public Health Department officials conducted a home visit and collected specimens, which came back presumptively positive last night," the release stated. "He has been cooperative and is in home isolation until follow-up tests are negative."

Chatham County includes the city of Pittsboro and borders Durham County to the south.

Because the man was already showing symptoms on his flight to the United States, the release noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will determine the other flight passengers at risk and notify the appropriate health agencies. 

A Wake County man was the first to test positive for the virus in North Carolina March 3.

Although the disease is not yet widespread in North Carolina, a team of Duke officials established measures designed to mitigate the danger of coronavirus, according to an email sent to the Duke community Thursday.

With spring break lasting from March 6 through March 16, the email warned students not to conduct nonessential personal travel to high-risk areas, and it stipulated that individuals visiting such areas would be subject to self-quarantine upon return to the University.