Hancock County woman with coronavirus went on Disney Cruise from NOLA to Mexico
A parishioner at St. Matthew The Apostle Church in Hancock County has tested positive for the new coronavirus and is self-quarantined at home along with her daughter, said church spokesperson Darnell Cuevas.
The woman received confirmation of the diagnosis Saturday evening and the Mississippi State Department of Health has been in contact with the parishioner, Cuevas said.
The woman last attended mass at 8:30 on March 8 and went to a social gathering for coffee afterward, Cuevas said.
The woman who was diagnosed with the virus told the Sun Herald she and her daughter had no symptoms when they attended the mass and would have skipped the service had they felt ill.
The woman underwent testing in Louisiana on Thursday and was initially listed as a case there from out of state, the church said.
“She had been feeling sick throughout the week, but not with the type of symptoms you read about,” Cuevas said Monday. “A lot of people are not realizing it’s confirmed in Hancock County because they are not seeing it on (the Mississippi State Department of Health’s) list.”
The patient is a 74-year-old woman who had been on a Disney Wonder cruise ship to Mexico during Mardi Gras. The ship left its port in New Orleans on Feb. 27 and returned March 2.
The woman’s daughter had been sick, but appears to be doing well now, her mother said. She has not been tested for the virus and is self-quarantined at home with her mother.
“Our prayers and well wishes go out to St. Matthew parishioners and especially those who are home self-quarantined,” Cuevas said. “Your prayers for a quick recovery for our parishioners is very much appreciated.”
The church has personally reached out to parishioners who they believed may have attended the March 8 mass and announced the positive coronavirus case on their Facebook page. The church has suspended all services as of Monday.
Those who came in contact with the parishioner, including Cuevas, are self-quarantining themselves at home.
Brian Adam, director of the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency, said he is working with the health department for information on any case that develops there.
“The whole situation is serious and everybody has to take general precautions,” Adam said.
He urged residents to follow safety recommendations from the MSDH, such as avoiding large crowds and practicing social distancing.
As of Monday, 289 people had been tested in Mississippi.
Twelve cases of coronavirus have been confirmed by the health department as of Monday.
Here’s a look at the Mississippi cases reported by MSDH so far:
- March 16- Pearl River County - No details
- March 16- Monroe County - No details
- March 15 - Hancock County - No details; MSDH previously said this was a Pearl River County case and corrected it on Monday.
- March 15 - Hinds County - 2 cases, no details
- March 15 - Copiah County - No details
- March 13 - Pearl River County - Woman over 65 in hospital
- March 13 - Copiah County - No details
- March 13 - Leflore County - Woman in home isolation
- March 13 - Forrest County - Man in home isolation
- March 13 - Forrest County - Woman over 65 in hospital
- March 11 - Forrest County - Man in home isolation
There have been no COVID-19-related deaths in Mississippi as of Monday morning.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 10:59 AM.
