As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase in the region and the virus starts to spread in our communities, the County today issued new guidance to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
To date, a total of 55 cases have been reported in the region — 47 in San Diego County residents, four from the federal quarantine and four in non-residents.
To slow the spread of COVID-19, the following guidance is being issued and is effective from March 17 through March 31, 2020:
“We are taking these measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep our health care system from being overwhelmed,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “There is now community spread of COVID-19 and the public needs to heed these measures to avoid contracting the virus.”
The County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is aggressively working to do contact tracing of all the patients who have tested positive for COVID-19. The appropriate people will be placed under self-quarantine and monitored for possible symptoms of COVID-19.
All people returning from the list of impacted countries —South Korea, Japan, Italy, China and Iran, and others added to the list — need to follow a 14-day home quarantine to keep the virus from spreading in case they are infected.
“People should remain at home to monitor for symptoms and no go out in public,” Wooten said.
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase across the nation, the state and the County, health officials are closing schools, businesses and other institutions to try to flatten the curve of the pandemic.
The goal is to practice social distancing to slow the spread of the pandemic so that many people don’t get sick at the same time and overwhelm the health care system. Should that occur, there might not be enough hospital beds or mechanical respirators for everyone who needs them.
“By slowing the spread of the virus, new cases won’t occur all at once,” Wooten said. “Hospitals and health care systems can adjust and be able to handle all people who might get sick and need to be hospitalized.”
It’s important for the public to take measures to reduce chances of getting and spreading the disease. To limit the spread of infection, you should:
Residents should also follow these important tips to help both prepare and respond to this public health threat.
Following these steps now helps protect you and your family.
If you have individual questions, please talk to your healthcare provider. For community resources, please call 2-1-1 San Diego or visit www.211sandiego.org. or www.coronavirus-sd.com.