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The Southside Health District (SHD) has confirmed two COVID-19 cases in the district.

According to a release from the SHD the first case of a resident of neighboring Mecklenburg County is a male in his 50s who had contact with a person in another part of Virginia diagnosed with COVID-19. SHD says the case was confirmed Friday, March 20

The individual is isolated at home and monitoring his health.

A second Mecklenburg resident tested positive for COVID-19 Monday, March 23.

According to the SHD that individual is a male in his 70s.

The release did not state if he was isolated at home or if he had been admitted to the hospital.

To protect patient privacy, no further information about the patients will be provided the release stated.

There are currently no confirmed cases  reported in Charlotte County.

“The Virginia Department of Health, hospitals, and health care providers continue to work together to identify COVID-19 cases in the community and across the commonwealth,” Southside Health District Director Dr. Scott Spillmann said. “The health district is investigating these cases and will identify and reach out to any close contacts of these residents who would require testing or monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, Virginia had positively diagnosed 290 cases of the coronavirus with 45 hospitalizations and seven deaths.

On March 11, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.

Most individuals with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms. However, in a small proportion of patients, COVID-19 can lead to more severe illness, including death, particularly among those who are older or those who have chronic medical conditions.

Symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.

Symptoms appear within 14 days of being exposed to an infectious person.

COVID-19 spreads primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.