Wake officials: Latest coronavirus patients voted, went out to eat, flew through RDU

The local residents started showing symptoms of COVID-19, the illness associated with coronavirus, between Feb. 29 and March 3, according to the Wake County Public Health Division. Officials noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says COVID-19 is most likely to be transmitted when people are symptomatic.

On Feb. 29, one of the patients went to the final day of early voting at the Millbrook Exchange Community Center in north Raleigh. Officials are working with elections officials to assess the risk of exposure for people at the polling site that day.

The patients worked at Biogen's offices in Research Triangle Park last week, and officials are trying to determine the extent of exposure there as well.

Biogen has asked all of its office workers and contractors in RTP, Massachusetts and Switzerland to work from home until further notice.

"The company is doing webcasts and other messaging for workers. They’re doing all they can to communicate to employees," a Biogen worker told WRAL News on Tuesday. "We don’t know who the individuals are who tested positive, so we have no idea if we’ve been in contact with them."

Several of the local patients traveled through Raleigh-Durham International Airport on flights to Boston and back between March 2 and March 6. Officials said that anyone on any flight determined to be at risk of exposure will be contacted.

One patient ate at Zest Café & Home Art, at 8831 Six Forks Road in Raleigh, on March 4. Owner Ben Swirsky said he closed Zest March 3 after learning about the coronavirus case and was bringing in a professional cleaning crew to sanitize everything in the restaurant and the gift shop. Zest has since reopened.

Public health officials said they believe there is little risk to anyone who came in contact with any of the people at any other locations in the past two week because they either weren't symptomatic or weren't in close contact with others.

People who don't have symptoms of COVID-19 – fever, coughing and shortness of breath – or who haven't been contacted by a public health nurse don't need to quarantine themselves or take precautions beyond washing hands, covering any coughs or sneezes and staying home from school or work if sick, officials said.

All five North Carolina residents are in isolation in their Wake County homes, officials said.

Those who have come into contact with those two men have been notified to watch for symptoms including fever, cough and difficulty breathing.