Third Massachusetts Resident Believed To Have COVID-19

A Massachusetts woman in her 60s has tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus, according to Massachusetts health officials. It's the third case detected in Massachusetts residents.

State officials are awaiting confirmation of the positive test result from the Centers for Disease Control.

The woman, who lives in Middlesex County, recently traveled to northern Italy, where a more serious outbreak of coronavirus is happening. While she showed symptoms of illness, she was not hospitalized and is "recovering at home."

“We appreciate this patient’s cooperation,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel. “While the risk to Massachusetts remains low, residents should make sure they and their families are well-informed about COVID-19 and heed the CDC’s updated international travel health alert.”

Four workers from South Shore Medical Center, an urgent care facility in Norwell, had contact with the woman. They will remain at home for two weeks as a precautionary measure, according to a statement from South Shore Health.

"It is important to note that the action taken today is a measure of precaution by recommendation of DPH and does not mean these employees will contract the virus," the statement said.

There have been two other cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including a confirmed case involving a Boston man who traveled to Wuhan, China, and a presumptive positive case involving a person from Norfolk County who recently traveled to northern Italy.

In all, 249 state residents remain under home quarantine. Another 490 have been cleared of any illness. Another 470 were released from quarantine completing their monitoring.

Tennessee health officials confirmed Thursday that a state resident who traveled to and from Boston has a confirmed case of COVID-19. And Biogen reported two international employees and one out-of-state worker have confirmed cases after attending a company meeting. It was not immediately clear whether the Biogen and Tennessee cases were related.

In Plymouth, the school department canceled Friday classes to give workers time to "disinfect all potential surfaces that occupants would come into contact with" in its 12 schools. The move to clean the buildings was made out of "an abundance of caution," according to a letter sent to parents by Plymouth School Superintendent Gary Maestas.