OC Health Officials Declare Coronavirus Emergency; 1 Confirmed Case Countywide
SANTA ANA (CBSLA) — Orange County officials Wednesday declared a local health emergency in response to one confirmed case of coronavirus in the county.
County Supervisors Michelle Steel and Andrew Do announced the move at a 1:30 p.m. news conference with local health officials in Santa Ana, where they said the sole patient has since made a full recovery since being diagnosed.
The move follows in the footsteps of San Diego County and San Francisco, where there have been zero confirmed cases of coronavirus -- known as COVID-19 -- in that city.
"This decision from the County did not come lightly," said Vice Chairman Andrew Do, First District. "This is a measured and prudent response in preparation for the possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak in Orange County. The Board of Supervisors and county staff are working vigilantly to monitor and prepare all the resources at our County's disposal to ensure the safety and well-being for all of Orange County's residents and visitors."
The flu-like virus has now infected more than 81,000 people worldwide.