COVID-19 Numbers at a Glance

As of the morning March 15, 2020 there were a total of 335 positive cases in California, a 14% increase from the previous day. 24 cases are from repatriation flights, and the other 311 confirmed cases include:

70 – travel related, 3 of which are from the Grand Princess.
68 – person-to-person.
82 – community transmissions.
91- currently under investigation.
6 – deaths (Includes one non-California resident).

California has 21 – labs with test kits, 19 already testing with 49 local health jurisdictions involved in self-monitoring.

Hospital Capacity
- 74,000 hospital beds at 614 facilities.
- Surge capacity of 8661 beds.
- 11,500 ICU beds (includes pediatric and neonatal).
- 7587 ventilators.
- EMSA has additional 900 ventilators.
- Procured an additional several hundred ventilators.
- Negotiations are underway to re-open healthcare facilities to significantly increase surge capacity.
- A minimum of 750 new beds will be added to surge capacity by end of the week.

Nationwide

As of March 13, 2020, there have been 41 deaths.
1,629 cases reported in 47 states, including D.C.
11,700+ individuals who traveled on commercial flights through SFO or LAX are self-monitoring across 49 local health jurisdictions. This is precautionary and these individuals are not displaying symptoms at this time.

From the international data we have, of those who have tested positive for COVID-19, approximately 80 percent do not exhibit symptoms that would require hospitalization.

Actions Taken by the State and Federal Government

On March 15, Governor Gavin Newsom announced pilot programs in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties that will begin mobile testing labs in next 24 to 48 hours. Pilot program could expand to other areas of state. The Governor also called for:

- Those who are older than 65 and those with chronic conditions to isolate in their homes as they face the greats risk from COVID-19.

Visitation of patients in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, senior and assisted living homes be for “end of life” only.
Bars, night clubs and wineries to close.

- Restaurants to cut occupancy in half.
Points of access will be expanded to deliver good to people who are isolated in their homes.
On March 15 Governor Gavin Newsom announced efforts to address the unsheltered homeless population:
- Hotels and motels will be procured to remove the homeless from the streets.
- 450 trailers will be sent to critical points to provide housing to the homeless.
Announced forthcoming guidance for schools that plan to remain open.
The CDC also announced new guidance for mass events and recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people.
March 14, the House of Representatives passed H.R 6201, The 2nd Federal Supplemental—Coronavirus Response Act. The bill includes paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, free testing and money for food stamps, among other things. Complete summary of appropriations made in the bill can be viewed here.

As of March 14, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has an Incident Management Assistance Team integrated into the Cal OES State Operations Center in Sacramento to support the State of California and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with the coordination of federal resources.

March 13, the President issues a proclamation declaring a national emergency concerning the COVID-19 outbreak. To view the declaration, click here. The White house also released a memorandum on expanding state-approved diagnostic tests. Click here to view.

State, territorial, tribal, and local government entities and certain private non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for assistance for measures taken to respond to the COVID-19 emergency at the direction or guidance of public health officials. Reimbursable activities typically include emergency protective measures such as the activation of State Emergency Operations Centers, National Guard costs, law enforcement and other measures necessary to protect public health and safety.

The FEMA Region IX Office in Oakland stood up its Regional Response Coordination Center to co-coordinate with HHS for federal resources to the seven states and territories within its operational jurisdiction.

CDPH issued new guidance on gambling venues, theme parks and theaters.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed an Executive Order ensuring state funding for schools in event of physical closure.

March 12, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a new executive order further enhancing California’s ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor’s order:
- Waives the one-week waiting period for people who are unemployed and/or disabled as a result of COVID-19;
- Delays the deadline for state tax filing by 60 days for individuals and businesses unable to file on time based on compliance with public health requirements related to COVID-19 filings;
- Directs residents to follow public health directives and guidance, including to cancel large non-essential gatherings that do not meet state criteria;
- Readies the state to commandeer property for temporary residences and medical facilities for quarantining, isolating or treating individuals;
- Allows local or state legislative bodies to hold meetings via teleconference and to make meetings accessible electronically; and
- Allows local and state emergency administrators to act quickly to protect public health.

March 11, Governor Newsom and state public health officials announced updated guidance on gatherings to protect public health and slow the spread of COVID-19. The state’s public health experts have determined that gatherings should be postponed or canceled across the state until at least the end of March. Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people, while smaller events can proceed only if the organizers can implement social distancing of 6 feet per person. Gatherings of individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should be limited to no more than 10 people, while also following social distancing guidelines.

On March 11, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

March 10 Snapshot:
- 1017 total individuals were disembarked from the ship on March 10.
  - 614 individuals were transported by bus to Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield, California.
  - 124 individuals were transported via charted flight to Dobbins Air Reserve base near Marietta, Georgia.
  - 98 individuals were transported via chartered flight to Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio.
  - 136 individuals were repatriated via chartered flight to the United Kingdom.
  - 3 individuals were transported via ambulance.
  - Up to 24 individuals who disembarked the cruise ship are being relocated to a cluster of buildings on the Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove. The individuals will be temporarily housed in buildings that are removed from visitors and the public, and will not interact with other Asilomar guests, employees, or the general public.
    - All the individuals have been screened by medical professionals, and because they have mild symptoms that do not require hospitalization, they cannot be quarantined at Travis Air Force Base. While none of these individuals is known to have contracted novel coronavirus (COVID-19), they will be tested and monitored by medical professionals while at Asilomar.

For more information on the health and safety measures being taken to protect first responders, the public and the surrounding community, please see Monday’s announcement.

Following the completion of the mission, the Grand Princess Cruise Ship will be moved from dock at the Port of Oakland and temporarily anchored.

Upon the ship’s departure, the Port of Oakland site will be fully remediated and decontaminated by immediately removing temporary structures and pressure washing the entire site with a bleach solution to disinfect it.

CHHS and Cal OES are partnering with federal and local governments to ensure that adequate protocols are in place to protect the health of the disembarked passengers and the public health of California and the communities surrounding Asilomar.

The state is also working closely with local agencies, including Monterey County and the City of Pacific Grove, to coordinate this mission and provide communication and information to the public.

March 9 Snapshot:
- 407 total individuals were disembarked from the ship
  - 173 U.S. residents
  - 149 transported via bus to Travis Air Force Base
  - 24 transported via ambulance
  - 234 Canadians
    - 232 transported for repatriation to Canada
    - 2 transported via ambulance
- This first day of disembarkation focused on passengers with the greatest medical need (not necessarily related to COVID-19). Many of these passengers had limitations on their movement which required greater time and care while they de-boarded the vessel.

Around noon on March 9, the Grand Princess cruise ship docked in the Port of Oakland and begin the disembarking process. Federal support teams from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (U.S. HHS) setup disembarking screening protocols to focus first on helping those individuals who required immediate emergency medical care, not necessarily related to COVID-19 exposure.

- Once the first cohort of individuals disembarked, the federal staff began disembarking the 962 California residents and Canadian nationals.

- Disembarkation of California residents will continue on March 10. Once all California residents are off the ship, non-Californians will disembark and be transported by the federal government to facilities in other states. The crew will be quarantined aboard the ship. If a crew member is in need of more acute medical care, he/she will be transferred to an appropriate medical facility in California.

- For more information regarding today’s activities in Oakland, see this press release from OESNews.

March 8, Cal OES and CDPH issued a press release giving an overview of the plan for the disembarking of the Grand Princess passengers and crew. For that release, please visit the OES News page.

- U.S. HHS also issued plan guidance stating that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will work with state and local partners in California to support passengers returning to the U.S. on the Grand Princess cruise ship. For that release, please visit the HHS page.

- The ship will dock temporarily in a non-passenger port in San Francisco Bay.

- Passengers will be transferred to federal military installations for medical screening, COVID-19 testing, and a 14-day quarantine.

- Nearly 1,000 passengers who are California residents will complete the mandatory quarantine at Travis Air Force Base and Miramar Naval Air Station, and residents of other states will complete the mandatory quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in Texas or Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia.

Throughout the quarantine, passengers will be monitored for symptoms of COVID-19.

- The Department of State is working closely with the home countries of several hundred passengers to arrange for repatriation to their countries.

March 7, California officials issued updated guidance to schools, colleges and universities, event organizers and public health officials as they plan for further spread of COVID-19.

On the morning of March 6, the federal government and the State of California learned that 21 of the 46 individuals who were tested for COVID-19 on the Grand Princess cruise ship tested positive.

- Federal and state government have been working in close collaboration overnight and throughout the day to quickly stand up a solution that meets the health needs for those on board and protects public health.

- President Trump and Governor Newsom spoke very early this morning, as did Governor Newsom and Vice President Pence throughout the day.

- The ship remains in international waters, and the mission will be a joint effort by the federal government and the State of California.

On March 5, under the direction of Governor Gavin Newsom, the Department of Managed Health Care directed all commercial and Medi-Cal health plans regulated by the Department to immediately reduce cost-sharing to zero for all medically necessary screening and testing for the COVID-19.

On March 5, the California Department of Insurance issued similar direction providing cost free medically necessary testing for an additional 2 million Californians. Combined these announcements ensure that 24 million more Californians are eligible to receive testing, should their health care provider deem it medically necessary.

On March 5, the California Employee Development Department announced support services to individuals affected by COVID-19 in California. For faster and more convenient access to those services, the use of online options is encouraged.

Individuals who are unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) can file a Disability Insurance claim.

Californians who are unable to work because they are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) can file a Paid Family Leave claim.

Employers experiencing a slowdown in their businesses or services as a result of the Coronavirus impact on the economy may apply for the UI Work Sharing Program.

On March 4, Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency.

The order streamlines processes to allow California to more rapidly address the impacts of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases throughout the state. These measures include:

Waiving unnecessary contracting requirements for state agencies;

Facilitates the use of out-of-state resources to provide assistance in California;

Extends price gouging protections for emergency and medical supplies statewide, including, but not limited to, antibacterial products, hygiene products, prescription and over-the-counter medications, and personal protective equipment;

Ensures the availability of all state properties as well as state and local fairgrounds;

Facilitates the sharing of anonymized information to facilitate monitoring, investigation and control, and treatment and coordination of care;

Ensures appropriate dissemination of COVID-19 guidance;

Relaxes regulations governing licensing and use of facilities under the purview of CDPH;

Relaxes regulations governing licensing and use of facilities under the purview of the Department of Social Services;

Allows for the transportation of patients to facilities as necessary to address the impacts of COVID-19;

Suspends requirements for local governments to periodically renew local emergencies and local health emergencies; and

May provide for the assistance to local governments that have demonstrated extraordinary or disproportionate impacts.

California is Prepared:

Given our connectedness to rest of the world and our sheer size, we have always understood that a fast-spreading and novel infectious disease could show up here first, in California, before anywhere else in the country.

In recent years we have had a plan for a flu-like pandemic – one that has built on our knowledge and experience with previous flu-strains and infectious diseases.

Our public health infrastructure and our expertise is second to none. We have been preparing for this particular virus since it was discovered last year, and we have been in deep and daily coordination with the CDC, local government and our health system as it spread.

How Can People Protect Themselves:

Every person has a role to play. So much of protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense – things you learned as a kindergartner:

Washing hands with soap and water.

Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

Follow guidance from public health officials.

It is also important that anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, call their health care provider first before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

About the Disease:

The family of coronaviruses has been around for some time. Some coronavirus are common, like the ones that cause the common cold. Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19, is a new a kind of coronavirus.
The most common symptoms include fever cough and respiratory symptoms. Our experience to date is that most people, more than 80%, have mild or no symptoms, but some have more complicated course, including pneumonia.

We are learning more about its transmission, but the most common symptoms are respiratory, so its primary mode of transmission is through coughing and sneezing.

About the Tests:

Quest Lab coming on line with the immediate capacity to process an additional 1,200 tests daily.

2 other commercial labs will be coming on line by March 24.

The CDC is providing test kits to public health labs in the U.S., including California, to detect the novel coronavirus. The test kits contain all the elements necessary for a laboratory to test and confirm the presence of the disease. Each test kit contains enough ingredients to test between 350 and 400 individuals. As of March 7, there are 25 such kits in California at various public health labs. Additional test kits have been ordered.

At this time, both oral and nasal swabs are taken at a hospital or by a physician who suspects COVID 19. This is handled through regular procedures for specimen collection, much in the same way flu testing is handled. There are no special materials needed for this collection. Those specimens are delivered, again much in the same way flu specimens are delivered, to the nearest public health lab for testing.

Commercial laboratories will be coming online for testing beginning next week. California is working closely with the CDC to request and receive more testing capacity, as needed. The CDC has fulfilled those requests on an ongoing basis and, as needs expand, California continues to request more testing capacity.