Coronavirus Tests On Exposed Bucks Co. Residents Are Negative

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Coronavirus tests on Bucks County residents who were exposed to the illness have all come up negative, county officials announced Friday evening.

A group of people in central Bucks County attended a private event slightly less than two weeks ago with a person who was later diagnosed with the disease, also known as COVID-19. The exposure closed five Central Bucks schools Friday.

The Bucks County Department of Health identified and contacted all who attended the gathering, and checked them for any symptoms of the illness, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath.

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"A small number of people found to have cold-like symptoms were tested today for COVID-19 at the state laboratory in Exton," information from the county said.

Test results received Friday evening were all negative, said Dr. David Damsker, director of the Bucks County Department of Health. Because the 14-day incubation period will not end until Monday, “we need to remain vigilant during the rest of the weekend. If all goes well, I would hope we can re-open schools on Monday," Damsker said.

Provided nobody develops symptoms before Monday, all will be medically cleared, county health officials said.

The news came hours after the Central Bucks School District closed schools due to the exposure. People at the gathering with the infected person had ties to Central Bucks High School South, Tohickon and Tamanend Middle Schools, and Butler and Titus elementary schools.

The infected person in attendance at the private gathering did not go anywhere else in Bucks County, health officials have said.

Earlier Friday, Pennsylvania's first cases of the virus were confirmed.

The two patients — one in Delaware County and another in Wayne County — are complying with directives to stay self-quarantined in their homes. Both are in good condition, officials said. The patients were exposed to the coronavirus through travel. The two current Pennsylvania cases were not spread through community interaction, according to officials.

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