First Butler County coronavirus death reported in Hamilton

The first reported death in Butler County from the COVID-19 coronavirus is an 86-year-old man from Hamilton, city officials said this morning.

A Hamilton spokesman said officials received test results on Monday night that confirmed the man was positive for COVID-19.

The man was the fourth confirmed case of coronavirus in Hamilton.

The man had been living alone at his house in Hamilton when he became ill. He was transported Saturday to a hospital with a cough, shortness of breath and fatigue and was tested that day.

He died on Sunday, “and the test results came back at 10:30 p.m.” Monday, said city spokesman Brandon Saurber.

That’s when Hamilton Health Commissioner Kay Farrar first received was notified about him.

“We do not know how he contracted it at this point, if it’s community spread or if he had contact with someone who traveled recently,” Saurber said.

Farrar is working to learn more about the man’s history, with whom he had contact and other details. The city is also tracking information about the city employees who transported him.

The latest Butler County Health District report shows 31 confirmed cases, including 61 percent in Liberty and West Chester townships, and 12 recoveries in the county.

Health Commissioner Jennifer Bailer releases epidemiology reports three times per week. Cases by location include:

• West Chester Twp. - 10

• Liberty Twp. - 9

• Hamilton - 4

• Fairfield - 3

• Oxford - 3

• Middletown - 2

• Fairfield Twp. - 1

• Okeana - 1

It took patients 11 to 24 days to recover with the median recovery being 17 days.

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