We are continuously monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in China and its spread around the world. To date, approximately 445 people have been tested nationwide and as of 2.26.2020, we have 9 confirmed cases in California. We do not have a confirmed case in Stanislaus County. We understand that there are concerns and understandably so. This is a new virus and we are still learning from it. However, the health risks remain low in our county and the general public in California. Typically, human coronaviruses cause mild to moderate respiratory illnesses and the symptoms are very similar to flu. These include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breadth
Health and safety of our community remains our primary concern and we encourage everyone to protect themselves and those around them. We can help prevent the spread of any illness, including COVID-19, by:
- Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- It is especially important to wash your hands:
- Before, during, and after you prepare food
- Before you eat and after you use the bathroom
- After handling cash
- More frequently when someone in your house is sick
- Before/after smoking/vaping
- Before/after using public computers
- It is especially important to wash your hands:
- Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
- Covering your coughs and sneezes with your arm
- Frequent cleaning of doorknobs, light switches, and other commonly touched areas with disinfectant wipes
- Avoiding contact with people who are ill
- Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough
Additionally, we recommend everyone to get a flu shot if you haven’t already. Thank you for your help in protecting the health of our community.
For more information regarding COVID-19, please visit http://schsa.org/publichealth/pages/corona-virus/