PROVIDENCE — Governor Gina M. Raimondo and State Director of Health Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott held a press conference Sunday, March 1, at the Rhode Island Department of Health Operations Center where they announced the presumptive first positive case of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Rhode Island.

The identity of the individual was not released. The officials did not say whether any businesses or schools should be closed due to the situation. However, sources have indicated to The Post and eastbayri.com the person is an educator at a private school in Pawtucket and his spouse likewise works in the East Providence School District. According to accounts on social media, the wife is a teacher at Silver Spring Elementary School.

“At this point in time the general level of risk to Rhode Islanders is low. There’s no need to panic. There’s no need to be frightened,” said Gov. Raimondo.

Officials did confirm the individual is a male in his 40s and traveled to Europe in mid-February with stops in Italy, Spain and France.

According to the officials, the person had limited travel in Rhode Island since returning from trip and did not go back to their place of work since coming home.

“As soon as he entered into the healthcare facility that he is being cared for now, COVID-19 was a definite consideration. The other viruses that resemble COVID-19 have also been assessed,” Dr. Alexander-Scott.

In addition, Dr. Alexander-Scott said the family of the individual has been in self-quarantine since it was determined the person could possibly have the virus. She added, “key” to the situation was that no one else who lives in this person’s home has developed symptoms.

Dr. Alexander-Scott said approximately 40 people had recent and direct contact with the individual. She said efforts have already begun to inform those who could have come into contact with the person. If they have, state officials are asking them to self-quarantine for period of at least 14 days since their last possible exposure to individual. DOH employees will be checking in with them on a daily basis.

Dr. Alexander-Scott continued, “We are being extremely vigilant in this scenario…We’re not seeing any wide-spread communal transmission…The general level of risk to Rhode Islanders is still extremely low.”

Both Dr. Alexander-Scott and Gov. Raimondo declined to get into any further specifics about the individual under treatment, like where he or she work, nor where their family members were employed or may attend school.

Dr. Alexander-Scott did say the person returned to the state from the European trip on February 22. The officials confirmed the individual was not part of a group of 26 people previously noted who were under evaluation for potential exposure to COVID-19.

“We certainly understand those concerns and we are working very closely with anyone who has had contact with them,” said Dr. Alexander-Scott. “We’re also working with all the sectors that are involved to make sure they have everything they need.”

Dr. Alexander-Scott stressed as of the most latest information, it is unlikely that a third-party could contract the illness, meaning unless someone has direct contact with a person actually carrying the virus it would be difficult to transmit.

“We are following the science. We are following best practices,” Gov. Raimondo added.

Later Sunday, Joseph Wendelken, RIDOH Public Information Officer, sent out the following note on asymptomatic (a person showing no symptoms) transmission: “The science continues to evolve and what we know about this virus is subject to change. However, the latest guidance from CDC is that risk of asymptomatic transmission is very low. (The main way the virus spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing.) If someone is not exhibiting any symptoms there is no need to change your daily routine.”