HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.06.20 Email from Miranda McAfee-Bowersox - Press Release Butte County Declares Local Emergency and Local Public Health Emergency in Response to COVID-19
From:McAfee-Bowersox, Miranda
Subject:Press Release
Date:Friday, March 6, 2020 2:52:13 PM
Hello Board Members,
Public Health just issued this press release FYI.
Miranda
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
March 6, 2020
Media Contact: Lisa Almaguer: 530-966-1686
BUTTE COUNTY DECLARES LOCAL EMERGENCY AND
LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IN RESPONSE TO
COVID-19
BUTTECOUNTY,Calif.– On March 6, 2020, Butte County Assistant Chief Administration
Officer, Brian Ring, proclaims a local emergency and the Butte County Health Officer, Dr.Andy Miller,
declares a local public health emergency in response to Coronavirus Disease 19, also known as
COVID-19. As of today, Butte County remains at zero laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19. These
actions have been executed in an effort to be proactive, allowing the County to expedite their
planning and response to potential COVID-19 cases and make additional resources available to the
County to limit and slow community spread of the disease.
Although the individual risk for contracting COVID-19 remains low in Butte County, all community
members should take the opportunity to plan for the possibility of local cases and the potential for
community spread.
Personal preparation measures include:
Graduallystockupextrasuppliesofimportantitems,suchas:soap,handsanitizer,
tissues,over-the-countermedicationsandprescriptionmedications.
Graduallystockuponnon-perishablefoods.
Createaback-upplanforwork,schoolandchildcareintheeventofclosures.
Talktoyourworkplaceaboutgettingready.Planfortelework,ifpossible.
Createaspaceinyourhometocareforsickfamilymembers.
Replacehandshakeswithelbow-bumps–makeagameofthiswithyourkids.
Cleananddisinfectfrequentlytouchedobjectsandsurfaces.
Butte County Public Health is prepared to manage and investigate suspected and confirmed cases of
COVID-19. Public Health will continue to work closely with federal, state, and local partners to
provide the public with accurate information about actions to be taken to reduce the spread of
COVID-19 and to care for those who may become ill with this virus. As with other respiratory
infections, there are steps that everyone can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
How Can People Protect Themselves:
The best way to prevent the spread of illness, including: seasonal flu, novel coronavirus and other
respiratory illness is to practice everyday illness prevention steps:
Washinghandswithsoapandwater.
Avoidingtouchingeyes,noseormouthwithunwashedhands.
Avoidingclosecontactwithpeoplewhoaresick.
Stayinghomeifyouaresick,especiallyfromwork,schoolandpublicplaces.
Followingguidancefrompublichealthofficials.
What to Do if You Think You’re Sick:
Call ahead: If you develop a fever, cough and shortness of breath and believe you could have COVID-
19, notify your healthcare provider by phone. Call ahead so that you can be safely evaluated to
prevent exposing others.
Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:
ButteCountyPublicHealth
CaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealth(CDPH)
TheCenterforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)
ButteCountyresidentscallalsocall2-1-1ortextyourzipcodeto898211forCOVID-
19informationandupdates.
###
Miranda Bowersox
Communications/Public Information Officer
Butte County Administration
25 County Center Drive, Oroville Ca. 95965
T.
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