YOLO COUNTY, Calif. — Yolo County health officials confirmed Friday the first case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the county. Officials with the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency believe the woman acquired the virus through community transmission, meaning she had not traveled to an infected area or had known contact with an infected person.
The patient is an older woman with underlying health conditions, according to a news release from Yolo County. She is hospitalized and improving.
“Given the rapid spread of COVID-19 around the world, I am not surprised that the virus is in our county”, Yolo County Public Health Officer, Dr. Ron Chapman in a written statement, said.
Yolo County also announced it will issue a local health emergency, along with a local emergency related to coronavirus. The proclamations will allow the county to receive funding and other resources to control the spread of coronavirus.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency on Wednesday. Several other counties, including Sacramento and Placer have declared local emergencies.
”This is obviously a challenging situation which makes it all the more important to remain calm, practice the public health guidelines and rely only on factual information from trusted medical sources,” Yolo County Board of Supervisors Chair Gary Sand said in a statement.
According to the CDC, coronavirus (COVID-19) is a family of viruses that is spreadable from person to person. Coronavirus is believed to have been first detected in a seafood market in Wuhan, China in December 2019. If someone is sick with coronavirus, the symptoms they may show include mild to severe respiratory illness, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Currently, there is no vaccine, however, the CDC suggests the following precautions, along with any other respiratory illness:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
The CDC also says facemasks should only be used by people who show symptoms of the virus. If you’re not sick, you do not have to wear a facemask. The CDC says the immediate risk to the U.S. public is low.
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