The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed four additional cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Los Angeles County; the total number of cases for the county is now eleven.
Information about the new cases:
- All of these additional positive cases are part of a group of travelers who were in Northern Italy. These travelers were a part of the group of travelers announced yesterday.
Public Health has identified persons who may have had close personal contact with these individuals, including any friends, family members or health care professionals, to assess and monitor them for signs and symptoms of illness. All confirmed cases are being isolated and close contacts are quarantined. There are no known significant exposures to the general public.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also issued new directives today for travelers returning from areas experiencing local outbreaks; the guidance asks these travelers to distance themselves from the public for 14 days by staying home from work and/or school, avoiding public spaces and public transit, and monitoring themselves for signs and symptoms of respiratory illness. Should returning travelers from areas experiencing outbreaks develop illness, they should immediately call their health care provider.
“With yesterday’s declarations of a public health emergency by the Board of Supervisors, Public Health has mobilized county resources, accelerated emergency planning, streamlined staffing, and enhanced our coordinated efforts with agencies across the county and with our state and federal partners,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “As more cases are identified, we are asking everyone to do their part: stay home if you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick; take time now to plan for the possibility of school and business closures, and be sure to follow any additional directives issued by Public Health and/or local officials. By working together, we can try to slow the transmission of novel coronavirus,” she added.
Public Health will continue to actively monitor this situation and provide updates to the public as needed.
Public Health continues to recommend that the public do the following to protect themselves and others from respiratory illnesses:
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands.
- Limit close contact, like kissing and sharing cups or utensils, with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve (not your hands).
- Facemasks are most effective when used appropriately by health care workers and those directly caring for people who are sick and by people who are sick (source control).
- Get a flu immunization to prevent influenza if you have not done so this season.
Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
Tweet This
Facebook
Digg This
Bookmark
Stumble
RSS
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
2 Comments
They wonder how the corona virus could get into LA. They let all the illegals in without health checks. They give them free health care, but they don’t use it,knowing that they are ill and don’t want to go to jail or a hospital. Start making them stop at that border and be check for health and this virus could be stopped. No,than so the rest of the legal citizens are exposed.
Looks like somebody hasn’t been paying attention.