A local public health emergency was declared Wednesday after new novel coronavirus cases were reported in Los Angeles County.
The announcement came at a news conference with health officials, who said the county now has six new confirmed coronavirus cases. The six new cases are linked to an assumed known exposure source, meaning the county still does not have any known cases of community transmission.
"There's either a travel history to an area with an outbreak, there's exposure to known travelers coming from areas where there's an outbreak, or the person is in close contact with a confirmed case," said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, head of the county health department.
The declaration allows greater coordination among various levels of government. It was made out of "an abundance of caution" and not panic, officials said at the Wednesday news conference.
Ferrer laid out a series of steps the department will be taking in the days and weeks ahead: "We are increasing our capacity for testing at our local public health lab. (It is) among 10 California health labs that have received CDC test kits and we have additional kits on the way. We are currently testing and have been since last Wednesday," Ferrer said. "We will ensure that people who test positive for the novel coronavirus and their close contacts are quickly identified and closely monitored and supported while they are in isolation and/or quarantine."
County residents can expect more confirmed cases in the near future. She urged people to follow basic sanitary practices such as frequent and thorough hand washing, covering their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing, and avoiding other people if they are sick, but also plan for the possibility of "more extensive social distancing requirements," including verbal salutations instead of handshakes, and whenever possible, trying to stay at least six feet away from strangers at public events.
Source: NBC Los Angeles
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