The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced recent statistics on COVID-19 on Tuesday.
California has 904,198 confirmed cases to date. Numbers may not represent true day-over-day change as reporting of test results can be delayed. As case numbers continue to rise in California, the total number of individuals who will have serious outcomes will also increase. There have been 17,400 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Testing turnaround time
California has worked to reduce testing turnaround times in recent weeks to help curb the spread of the virus. During the week of October 11 to October 17, the average time patients waited for test results was 1.2 days. During this same time period, 69 percent of patients received test results in 1 day and 91 percent received them within two days.
Blueprint for a safer economy
Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled the “Blueprint for a Safer Economy,” at https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/. This is a statewide plan for reducing COVID-19 and keeping Californians healthy and safe. The plan imposes risk-based criteria on tightening and loosening COVID-19 allowable activities and expands the length of time between changes to assess how any movement affects the trajectory of the disease.
Californians can go to covid19.ca.gov to find out where their county falls and what activities are allowable in each county.
Data and tools
A wide range of data and analysis guides California’s response to COVID-19. The state is making the data and its analytical tools available to researchers, scientists and the public at covid19.ca.gov.
Multisystem Inflammatory
Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
Each week, the California Department of Public Health updates the number of cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) reported in the state. As of October 26, 119 cases of MIS-C have been reported statewide.
MIS-C is a rare inflammatory condition associated with COVID-19 that can damage multiple organ systems. MIS-C can require hospitalization and be life threatening. Parents should be aware of the signs and symptoms of MIS-C including fever that does not go away, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes or feeling tired. Contact your child’s doctor immediately if your child has these symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment of patients is critical to preventing long-term complications.
Your actions save lives
Every person has a role to play. Protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense:
• Staying home except for essential needs/
activities following local and state public
health guidelines when patronizing approved
businesses. To the extent that such sectors are
re-opened, Californians may leave their
homes to work at, patronize, or otherwise
engage with those businesses, establishments
or activities.
• Practicing social distancing.
• Wearing a cloth face mask when out in
public.
• Washing hands with soap and water for a
minimum of 20 seconds.
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with
unwashed hands.
• Covering a cough or sneeze with your sleeve,
or disposable tissue. Wash your hands after
ward.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are
sick.
• Staying away from work, school or other
people if you become sick with respiratory
symptoms like fever and cough.
• Answer the call if a contact tracer from the
CA COVID Team or your local health
department tries to connect. Contact tracers
will connect you to free, confidential testing
and other resources, if needed.
• Following guidance from public health
officials.
What to Do if you think you’re sick
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (for example: fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches), call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken. More than 100 community testing sites also offer free, confidential testing: Find a COVID-19 Testing Site.
For more information about what Californians can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19, visit covid19.ca.gov. California continues to issue guidance on preparing and protecting California from COVID-19. Consolidated guidance is available on the California Department of Public Health’s Guidance web page, www.cdph.ca.gov.
