Category Archives: News

The O.C. Health Care Agency is reporting a total of 202 COVID-19 cases in Anaheim as of today, April 19, and 1,636 cases Countywide. There were no new deaths reported today. To date there have been 32 deaths. There were 79 new cases reported today and 144 victims are in the hospital with 56 of them in Intensive Care Units.

Here is how other major cities in Orange County are faring:

• Santa Ana reports 160 cases
• Huntington Beach reports 136 cases
• Irvine reports 118 cases
• Newport Beach reports 87 cases
• Garden Grove reports 61 cases
• Buena Park reports 58 cases
• Fullerton reports 52 cases
• Tustin reports 32 cases
• Costa Mesa reports 30 cases
• Fountain Valley reports 25 cases

California now has 30,333 confirmed cases and 1,166 deaths, according to the CA Dept. of Public Health.

As of April 18, local health departments in California have reported 3,523 confirmed positive cases in health care workers. 

As of April 18, more than 280,900 tests had been conducted in California. At least 273,721 results have been received and another 7,200 are pending. These numbers include data California has received from commercial, private and academic labs, including Quest, LabCorp, Kaiser, University of California and Stanford, and the 22 state and county health labs currently testing.

The CDC is reporting 690,714 cases Nationwide and 35,443 deaths.

How People Can Protect Themselves
Every person has a role to play. Protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense: 

• Staying home except for essential needs/activities.
• Practicing social distancing.
• Washing hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Covering 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.

What to Do if You Think You’re Sick
Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath) 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 before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

For more information about what Californians can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19, visit Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California.

California continues to issue guidance on preparing and protecting California from COVID-19. Consolidated guidance is available on the California Department of Public Health’s Guidance web page.​​​

The O.C. Health Care Agency reported today 146 total cases of COVID-19 in Anaheim, on Easter Sunday. There are a total of 1,277 cases Countywide and 57 were reported today. One new death was reported today and there have been 19 so far. There are 107 victims in the hospital and 52 are currently in Intensive Care Units.

Here is how other major cities in Orange County are faring:

• Santa Ana reports 111 cases
• Irvine reports 97 cases
• Huntington Beach reports 87 cases
• Newport Beach reports 85 cases
• Orange reports 46 cases
• Buena Park reports 44 cases
• Garden Grove reports 38 cases
• Fullerton reports 35 cases
• Mission Viejo reports 34 cases
• Tustin reports 28 cases
• Costa Mesa reports 26 cases
• Westminster reports 20 cases

As of April 11, 2020, there are a total of 21,794 positive cases and 651 deaths in California, according to the CA Department of Public Health.

The CDC reports these nationwide figures:

• Total cases: 525,704
• Total deaths: 20,486

How can people protect themselves?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). This occurs through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. 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.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. If surfaces are dirty, clean them using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow.
• 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.
• If you smoke or vape, consider quitting. Smokers who already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity could be at increased risk of serious illness. 
• Following guidance from public health officials.

Please consult with your health care provider about additional steps you may be able to take to protect yourself.

Who is at Higher Risk for Serious Illness from COVID-19?

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 (65+)
• Individuals with compromised immune systems
• Individuals who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Lung disease

In addition, smokers who already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity could be at increased risk of serious illness.

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, including: 

• Isolate at home and practice social distancing.
• 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.
• 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.

For more information visit the CDC’s website.

What if I’m sick?

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Typically, human coronaviruses cause mild-to-moderate respiratory illness. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, including:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

COVID-19 can cause more severe respiratory illness.

What if I have symptoms?

Patient: If a person develops symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough or shortness of breath, and has reason to believe they may have been exposed, they should call their health care provider before seeking care. Contacting them in advance will make sure that people can get the care they need without putting others at risk. Please be sure to tell your health care provider about your travel history. You can also take the following precautionary measures: avoid contact with sick individuals, wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.Health Care Provider: Patients who may have infection with this novel coronavirus should wear a surgical mask and be placed in an airborne infection isolation room. If an airborne infection isolation room is not available, the patient should be placed in a private room with the door closed. Health care providers should use standard, contact and airborne precautions and use eye protection. Please see “Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China” for more information about infection control. The Public Health Department will issue All Facility Letters to regulated healthcare facilities within California with updated information and guidance; these can be found on the AFL webpage.