State Health & Emergency Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts

Yesterday Governor Newsom Issued an Executive Order Further Enhancing California's Ability to Respond to COVID-19

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health today announced the most recent statistics on COVID-19. California now has 247 confirmed cases: this does not include passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship currently docked in Oakland.

Yesterday Governor Gavin Newsom issued a new executive order (PDF) further enhancing California's ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor's order:

• Waives the one-week waiting period for people who are unemployed and/or disabled as a result of COVID-19;
• Delays the deadline for state tax filing by 60 days for individuals and businesses unable to file on time based on compliance with public health requirements related to COVID-19 filings;
• Directs residents to follow public health directives and guidance, including canceling large non-essential gatherings that do not meet state criteria;
• Readies the state to commandeer property for temporary residences and medical facilities for quarantining, isolating or treating individuals;
• Allows local or state legislative bodies to hold meetings via teleconference and to make meetings accessible electronically; and
• Allows local and state emergency administrators to act quickly to protect public health.

The Governor's executive order followed the release of updated guidance on gatherings to protect public health and slow the spread of COVID-19. The state's public health experts have determined that gatherings should be postponed or canceled across the state until at least the end of March. Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people, while smaller events can proceed only if the organizers can implement social distancing of 6 feet per person. Gatherings of individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should be limited to no more than 10 people, while also following social distancing guidelines.

The updated PDF guidance is available.

California continues to issue guidance on preparing and protecting California from COVID-19. Consolidated guidance is available on the Guidance page.

For more information on COVID-19 and California's response visit the California Department of Public Health's website.

COVID-19 in California by the Numbers (as of 8 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time):
5 – Deaths (including one non-California resident)

247– Positive cases (this does not include passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship currently docked in Oakland)

Ages of all confirmed positive cases:

• Age 0-17: 4 cases
• Age 18-64: 143 cases
• Age 65+: 98 cases
• Unknown: 2 cases

24 – Cases of positive tests related to federal repatriation flights

223 – Cases not related to repatriation flights

• 65 – Travel-related
• 52 – Person to person
• 56 – Community transmission
• 50 – Under investigation
  

11,400+ – 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
21 – Labs with test kits, 18 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 for a minimum of 20 seconds.
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover a cough or sneeze with your sleeve, or disposable tissue. Wash your hands afterward.
• 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.

All Community Guidance released from CDPH:
The California Department of Public Health has consolidated state guidance on how to prepare and protect Californians from COVID-19 in a single location. This includes guidance for:

• Community Care Facilities, Including Assisted Living Facilities and Child Care
• People at Risk for Serious Illness
• Drinking Water, Recreational Water and Wastewater
• Employers, Health Care Workers and Workers in General Industry
• First Responders, Including Paramedics and EMTs
• Food Industry
• Event and Gathering Guidance
• Homeless Assistance Providers
• Individuals with Access or Functional Needs
• Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plans
• Health Care Facilities from Cal/OSHA
• Health Care Facilities, Including Long-Term Care Facilities
• Health Care Plans
• Coverage Options
• Home Cleaning with COVID-19 Positive Individuals
• Laboratories
• Schools and institutions of higher education

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 Employment 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.
• California continues to work in partnership with the federal government to aid in the safe return of 962 Californians from the Grand Princess cruise ship. This mission is centered around protecting the health of the passengers, and ensuring that when the passengers disembark, the public health of the United States, the State of California, and partner communities is protected.
• 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 20 other public health department laboratories now have tests for the virus that causes COVID-19. Eighteen of them are currently conducting tests, with the others coming online soon.