Our partners at the County of Alameda shared that as a precautionary measure they have declared a local public health emergency so that the County is poised to respond with additional resources as needed.
Residents should take these precautions to stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses:
● Wash hands with liquid soap and water and rub for at least 20 seconds
● Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing
● Refrain from touching your eyes, nose and mouth
● Stay home when sick; and
● Get a flu shot to protect yourself and others from the flu, which has similar symptoms to COVID-19
People who are well and healthy do not need to use a facemask. A facemask can be worn for those who are coughing or sneezing to protect others from getting sick. The use of facemasks is crucial, however, for health workers and others who are caring for someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings.
Healthy people should not be excluded from any activities based on their race or country of origin. There is no racial, ethnic, or cultural basis for the disease.
City officials are monitoring the situation and closely coordinating with Alameda County Public Health officials. We will provide additional information as we receive it. Additional info is also available here: www.acphd.org/2019-ncov.aspx
