WATCH: Why Public Officials are Mum on Details About Tom Green County's First Coronavirus Patient

SAN ANGELO, TX – City officials called for an emergency press conference yesterday to address questions that have been circulating around town since the first positive Coronavirus patient was revealed. The problem was that many of the questions were not given answers. 

The Tom Green County Health Department along with the City of San Angelo announced yesterday that the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in San Angelo. 

Mayor Brenda Gunter scheduled a press conference at the McNease Convention Center. The purpose of the meeting was for officials to reiterate the message of following the CDC Guidelines (wash hands, stay six feet away from others) as well as the move to shut down more non-essential businesses like hair, nail and tattoo parlors. 

During the meeting, officials were asked questions regarding the COVID-19 positive patient but officials were reluctant to disclose much about the patient, citing privacy laws. "What we are required to do is to not give out any details that could disclose the identity of a person." said City Attorney Teresa James. "The smaller your community the more likely those details could disclose the person's identity." 

When Mayor Brenda Gunter was asked where the patient traveled from she responded "We cannot say." When asked when the patient arrived back in San Angelo from the trip abroad, she responded "We do not know." 

"We are still researching and kind of going through that process so nothing to share at this point." said Shannon's CEO Shane Plymell. 

It is unclear who the patient is, where the patient came from, or where the patient has been. As of 2 p.m. Mar. 24 there are 184 tests performed, 69 negative, and one positive in San Angelo. The remainder of the tests are pending.