MADERA – The Madera County Department of Public Health has confirmed that a United States Postal Service contracted mail carrier in the Coarsegold area tested positive for COVID-19 last week. At this time the source of transmission is under investigation.

The patient began exhibiting unrelated symptoms and remained at home. Two days later, the patient went to the hospital for unrelated symptoms and was tested for COVID-19. The hospital later confirmed COVID-19 and the patient returned to home isolation. Madera County Department of Public Health Communicable Disease Investigators have identified 12 individuals who had qualifying contact with the patient. All persons with qualifying contact were immediately isolated.

Dr. Simon Paul, Public Health Officer with the Madera County Department of Public Health would like to put residents at ease who may be worried about contracting the illness from their packages, “While we cannot say the risk of contracting COVID-19 from mail is zero, there is no evidence to date of any transmission occurring from this route.” Dr. Paul also explains the importance of remembering: Qualifying ‘contact’ with a person is defined as an encounter within 6 feet of a confirmed COVID-19 patient for a minimum duration of 10 minutes.

According to Meiko Patton, Communications Program Specialist for the USPS, the post office was temporarily closed but has since reopened. Customers can speak to the Coarsegold Postmaster for any customer concerns. They can also see visit our website to see what we are doing: 

Madera County currently has 30 COVID-19 cases – 20 active cases, 8 recovered cases, and 2 deceased patients. The county health department is also monitoring 503 other cases – 11 tests pending, 322 known tests, and 80 other monitored.

The case count is updated daily by 4 pm. at www.maderacounty.com/covid19.