On Sunday, the Iowa Department of Public Health confirmed the first positive COVID-19 coronavirus in Kossuth County, in north central Iowa.

The patient, whose location and gender is not being released, is an adult between the ages of 18 and 40, according to Bob Jennings, public information officer for the Emergency Operations Center of Kossuth County.

The county activated a team last week to prepare for the event of a positive test in the county, Jennings said, and had pre-made plans in case the situation occurred.

“At this point, they are putting those plans in place,” he said. “We ask that people still practice the preventative measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, which is recommended by not only the Iowa Department of Health, but the CDC.”

Jennings said the Kossuth County EOC also urges residents to remain calm when they hear the news of a COVID-19 case in the area.

“It’s normal to have reactions of frustration, anxiety and anger from such a situation,” he said. “But as the week has gone by, the number of cases has increased in the state of Iowa and this is our first case and we’ll act accordingly to it.”