State Health & Emergency Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts

Published:

Date: March 8, 2020
Number: NR20-015

State has released updated guidance for schools, colleges, large public events, employers, workers and elder care/congregate living facilities to prepare and protect Californians from COVID-19

Updated guidance builds off existing emergency plans and incorporates latest science on how the virus is transmitted and global experience fighting COVID-19 

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health today announced the most recent statistics on COVID-19. California now has 114 confirmed cases, including passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship currently off the coast of California.

Over the last two days, the California Department of Public Health released guidance to support elder care and congregate living facilities, (PDF). Guidance for large events (PDF). Guidance for schools (PDF). Guidance for colleges and universities (PDF)Guidance for employers and workers.

For more information on COVID-19 and California’s response visit the CDPH website.

COVID-19 in California by the Numbers (as of 7 a.m. Pacific Time):
114– Positive tests

24 – Cases of positive tests related to federal repatriation flights

90 – Cases not related to repatriation flights

  • 37 – Travel-related
  • 23 – Person to person
  • 14 – Community transmission
  • 16 – Under investigation

10,250+ – Number of people self-monitoring who returned to the U.S. through SFO or LAX
49 – Number of local health jurisdictions involved in self-monitoring
19 – Labs with test kits, 15 of which are already testing
 
How Can People Protect Themselves:
Every person has a role to play. So much of protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense: 

  • Washing hands with soap and water.
  • Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
  • Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.
  • Following guidance from public health officials.

What to Do if You Think You’re Sick:
Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19 or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider or local public health department first before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.
 
California’s Response to COVID-19:
We have been actively and extensively planning with our local public health and health care delivery systems. Here are some of the things we are already doing:  

  • As in any public health event, the California Department of Public Health’s Medical and Health Coordination Center has been activated and is coordinating public health response efforts across the state.
  • California continues to prepare and respond in coordination with federal and local partners, hospitals and physicians.
  • Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19.
  • Governor Gavin Newsom requested the Legislature make up to $20 million available for state government to respond to the spread of COVID-19.
  • California activated the State Operations Center to its highest level to coordinate response efforts across the state.
  • 24 million more Californians are now eligible for free medically necessary COVID-19 testing.
  • California made available some of its emergency planning reserves of 21 million N95 filtering face piece masks for use in certain health care settings to ease shortages of personal protective equipment.
  • The Public Health Department is providing information, guidance documents, and technical support to local health departments, health care facilities, providers, schools, universities, colleges, and childcare facilities across California
  • The California Employee Development Department (EDD) is encouraging individuals who are unable to work due to exposure to COVID-19 to file a Disability Insurance claim.
  • EDD is also encouraging employers who are experiencing a slowdown in their businesses or services as a result of the Coronavirus impact on the economy to apply for an Unemployment Insurance work sharing program.
  • The Public Health Department is coordinating with federal authorities and local health departments that have implemented screening, monitoring and, in some cases quarantine of returning travelers. 
  • In coordination with the CDC, state and local health departments, we are actively responding to cases of COVID-19.
  • The Public Health Department is supporting hospitals and local public health laboratories in the collection of specimens and testing for COVID-19. 

The California Department of Public Health’s state laboratory in Richmond and 18 other public health department laboratories now have tests for the virus that causes COVID-19.  Fifteen of them are currently conducting tests, with the others coming online soon.

www.cdph.ca.gov/covid19

2 Comments

  1. juliet abuan

    where can i get free covid 19 testing if i am a senior and exposed to someone who had the virus and died

    Reply
  2. Eugene Weinbeck

    I am a concerned resident of the Bakersfield Rehabilitation center
    2211 Mt Vernon
    Bakersfield, Calif.
    93306
    The administrator Rush Melleti has left the country due to the COVID19 outbreak at the facility. The residents care has gotten horrible. He has left a young CNA in charge. The situation is bad.

    Reply

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