The three had to go to the hospital after returning from a ski trip in Italy. Jonathan Gonzalez reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2020.
On the heels of Gov. Gavin Newsom declaring a statewide emergency in California over the spread of novel coronavirus, four additional cases were reported in Los Angeles County Thursday.
All of the four had traveled to northern Italy, where there is an outbreak of COVID-19, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced.
Want to know what to stock up on in case of self-quarantine? Find that here.
Six cases were reported just the day before in LA, one of which was a CDC medical screener checking travelers for symptoms at LAX.
Two of the other cases were people who were most likely exposed to the novel coronavirus by a family member who previously tested positive, and lives outside LA County, public health officials said Wednesday.
The other three had also visited northern Italy.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
Public Health officials were also asking anyone to protect themselves and others if feeling ill.
Suggestions for stopping the spread:
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Limit close contact, like kissing and sharing cups or utensils, with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve (not your hands).
- Face masks are most effective when used appropriately by health care workers and people who are sick.
- Get a flu immunization if you have not done so this season.
Local public health emergencies were also previously declared in Pasadena and Long Beach, though there were no confirmed cases in those cities.
Later Wednesday, the first known death in California due to coronavirus was reported in Placer County, prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a statewide emergency. California is the third U.S. state to do so over coronavirus fears.
