CA: State Of Emergency Declared Amid Coronavirus Death, Outbreak

SACRAMENTO, CA — California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Wednesday amid a steadily growing outbreak of the new coronavirus. Newsom said the emergency proclamation provides additional resources, formalizes emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and helps the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19.

The emergency declaration was made following the state's first known death related to the virus: an elderly resident of Placer County whom public health officials say had underlying health conditions and was exposed to COVID-19 on a Grand Princess cruise Feb. 11-21 from San Francisco to Mexico and back.

It also came as COVID-19 tests were being flown out to sea to the Grand Princess ship, which the governor said was delayed off the coast until its passengers could be tested for the virus.

The number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus Wednesday in California was 53, Newsom said. Another 9,400 people were being monitored throughout the state.

To add to that, at least 2,500 of the passengers on the Feb. 11-21 Grand Princess voyage from San Francisco to Mexico and back were Californians, and efforts are being made to contact every single one of those passengers, the governor said in a news conference Wednesday night.

“The State of California is deploying every level of government to help identify cases and slow the spread of this coronavirus,” Gov. Newsom said. “This emergency proclamation will help the state further prepare our communities and our health care system in the event it spreads more broadly.”

The proclamation builds on work already underway by the California Department of Public Health, California Health and Human Services Agency, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and other agencies which have been on the front lines of the state’s response to COVID-19 since January.

Further, according to the governor's office, it protects consumers against price-gouging.

Newsom announced the release Wednesday of millions of N95 masks to address shortages caused by COVID-19, adding that earlier this week, the state secured the capacity to test thousands of specimens from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — CDC — to speed up testing statewide for the coronavirus.

Princess Cruises Issues Statement

The following statement was issued Thursday by Princess Cruises regarding the COVID-19 situation on the Grand Princess cruise ship:

"While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 currently on board, the CDC has identified groups of guests and crew who will be tested before arrival into San Francisco.

"There are fewer than 100 guests and crew identified for testing, including all in-transit guests (guests who sailed the previous Mexico voyage and remained onboard for the current Hawaii voyage), those guests and crew who have experienced influenza-like illness symptoms on this voyage, and guests currently under care for respiratory illness.

"To facilitate this testing, the U.S. Coast Guard will deliver sampling kits to the ship the morning of March 5 via helicopter. Our onboard medical team will administer the test and the samples will be sent in batches by helicopter to a lab in Richmond, Calif across the bay from San Francisco.

"Public health officials have advised that no guests will be permitted to disembark until all results have been received. Out of an abundance of caution, all guests who have been identified for testing have been asked to remain in their staterooms. We will continue to proceed under the guidance of the U.S CDC and local authorities.

"Princess Cruises can also confirm the cancellation of the upcoming Grand Princess Hawaii cruise departing on March 7. All guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, Princess Air, Princess Cruise Plus pre- and post-cruise hotel packages, prepaid shore excursions and other prepaid items purchased through Princess. Unexpected expenses, such as air change fees, reimbursement of reasonable non-refundable out-of-pocket expenses will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Guests will also receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to 100% of the cruise fare paid on this voyage."

READ MORE:

• Coronavirus: Grand Princess Cutting Voyage Short, Returning To SF
• Coronavirus: Tests Underway On Cruise Ship Passengers, Crew (Latest Death Toll)
• 2nd Sonoma County Resident Presumptive Positive For COVID-19

Patch will update this developing story throughout the day Thursday as more information is gathered; please refresh your screen for the latest.