Orange County now has 152 COVID-19 cases

The illnesses and fatalities due to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to rise in California as the total cases are now up to 2,102 positive cases and 40 deaths, according to the State of California Public Health Department.

Ages of all confirmed positive cases: in California

• Age 0-17: 28 cases
• Age 18-49: 970 cases
• Age 50-64: 493 cases
• Age 65 and older: 449 cases
• Unknown: 162 cases

The O.C. Health Care Agency is reporting that COVID-19 cases have escalated to a total of 152 today. The majority of these cases are in the 18-49 year old category with 87 such cases.

The total number of people tested by HCA Public Health Lab (PHL) and by commercial labs is 2,159. HCA PHL has kits available to test 1,390 specimens.

Key points to remember:

• High-risk populations which include older adults (ages 65 and higher) as well as people who have serious, chronic medical conditions (like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease) are at higher risk for contracting COVID-19. These individuals should self-isolate at home.
• Residents should practice good health hygiene which includes washing your hands, staying home if you are sick, avoiding close contact with people who are sick and covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve (not hands).
• Minimizing risk through social distancing whenever possible which includes avoiding attendance at large gatherings (250 people or more). Small gatherings should be limited to no more than 10 people and provide social distancing of six feet per person.
• Maintain vigilance and personal readiness which includes being prepared if there is COVID-19 in your household or a disruption of daily activities in your community. For example, maintain a supply of medications, food and other essentials in your house.
• Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, stay home while you are ill. If you need to seek medical care, call your health care provider first so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

What if you 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.