The California Department of Public Health is encouraging Californians who are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 to take actions to reduce their risk.
Early information out of China, where COVID-19 first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness.
This includes:
– Older adults;
– Individuals with compromised immune systems;
– Individuals who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.
If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or health condition, it is important for you to take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease.
Actions you can take to reduce your risk include
– Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
– Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
– Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and stay away from large gatherings and crowds.
– Stay home as much as possible. Consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks.
It is also important that you listen to public health officials who may recommend community actions to reduce potential exposure to COVID-19, especially if COVID-19 is spreading in your community.
COVID-19 in California by the numbers as of Monday, March 8
– 133: Positive cases (this does not include passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship currently off the coast of California).
– 24: Cases of positive tests related to federal repatriation flights.
– 109: Cases not related to repatriation flights.
– 44: Travel-related.
– 28: Person to person.
– 19: Community transmission.
– 18: Under investigation.
– 10,300+: 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, 17 of which are already testing.
How people can protect themselves
Every person has a role to play. So much of protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense:
– Wash hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
– Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
– Cover a cough or sneeze with your sleeve, or disposable tissue. Wash your hands afterward.
– Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
– Stay away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.
– Follow 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.
For more information visit the CDC’s website.
For more information on COVID-19 and California's response visit the CDPH website.
Officials encourage individuals at higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 to take precautions
- Lake County News reports
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