COVID 19 Santa Clara County Public Health Order
Updated: Mar 11, 2020
Santa Clara County Dept. of Public Health issued a Health Order banning mass gatherings of 1000 or more people till the end of March. This order comes in the aftermath of the first COVID 19 death reported in Santa Clara County. This is also the first such order issued in the United States of America. The Public Health Officer, Sara Cody issued this order along with new guidance on precautionary measures to be taken by businesses, community organizations, schools and individuals. Schools will remain open and students Along with staff, who are healthy are encouraged to attend school as per normal. Dr Cody also clarified that the lady who succumbed to COVID 19 was in her sixties and was already being treated for other health conditions that made her particularly vulnerable to this virus. Seniors and those with compromised immunity are recommended to self quarantine since they are most at risk for contracting COVID 19. Businesses and Employers are asked to suspend all non essential travel And any large gatherings till the end of March. While there is widespread concern about how this might affect the Bay Area community, residents of Santa Clara County are being urged not to panic, or overwhelm themselves with unreliable information; residents are in turn encouraged to follow all the listed guidelines to maintain good health and hygiene and keep themselves updated on the County’s Health Directives.
County of Santa Clara Issues Order to Cancel Mass Gatherings Due to Increasing Rates of COVID-19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 9, 2020 Contact: County of Santa Clara Emergency Operations Center/Public Health Department 408-808-7863 pio@eoc.sccgov.org COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA ISSUES ORDER TO CANCEL MASS GATHERINGS DUE TO INCREASING RATES OF COVID-19 SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — In light of significantly increasing rates of COVID-19 in Santa Clara County, the County’s Public Health Department is taking further steps to protect the health of our community.Today, the Public Health Department is announcing a mandatory order issued by the Public Health Officer requiring the cancellation of mass gatherings in the County. This order will take effect at 12:00 a.m. on March 11, 2020 and will remain in place for three weeks as more widespread testing becomes available and we are able to learn more about the spread of COVID-19. We are also announcing new, stronger guidance for the general public and for many specific groups designed to reduce the spread of the virus in our community.“This is a critical moment in the growing outbreak of COVID-19 in Santa Clara County. The strong measures we are taking today are designed to slow the spread of disease,” said Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara County Health Officer. “Today’s order and new recommendations will reduce the number of people who develop severe illness and will help prevent our healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed. This is critically important for anyone with healthcare needs, not just those most vulnerable to serious illness from COVID-19.”It is important that all individuals, including those who are not at higher risk for severe illness, follow this guidance. Even individuals who are not a higher risk can inadvertently transmit the virus to vulnerable people.Earlier Monday, the Public Health Department announced the first death from COVID19 in the county. The person who passed away was an adult woman in her 60s, had been hospitalized for several weeks, and was the third case of COVID-19 reported by the County Public Health Department on February 28, 2020. She was the first person in the County confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 without any known history of international travel or contact with a traveler or infected person, suggesting she contracted COVID-19 in our community.Six more cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Monday in the County of Santa Clara, bringing the countywide total to 43.For more information visit: www.sccphd.org/coronavirus