Coronavirus In San Diego: 5 New Cases; Virus Spreading Locally

SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego County officials on Thursday announced the new coronavirus appears to be spreading in the San Diego region as five more people have tested positive for COVID-19. There are now a total of six active cases in the county.

"Today we have multiple new positive cases of COVID-19 to report," Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said. "With these new positive cases, the evidence is pointing to the likely reality that we now have community spread in San Diego County."

The five new cases are considered presumptive positive until test results are confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most of the cases are related to travel, but at least one appears to be the result of local community transmission, according to Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer.

The cases include a woman in her 70s who was aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship and is isolated at home; a man in his 50s who traveled to Colorado; a man in his 40s who possibly traveled to Colorado and is isolated at home; and a woman in her 70s who was also on the cruise ship. She was among the more than 300 passengers from the ship being quarantined at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar but is now isolated at a hospital. The final case is a man in his 50s who is isolated at a hospital. Health officials believe his case may be the result of community transmission.

"We fully expect and know that we will get more cases, and yes, we will have deaths," she said.

Following in the state's footsteps, the county issued a public health order banning gatherings of 250 people or more, which will be effective at midnight Thursday. The order will be legally enforced through the end of March.

"While this is a legally enforceable action, we are asking for the public's help. We are asking for the public's cooperation to help us ensure that these mass gatherings are not taking place," Fletcher said.

"This virus is highly contagious," he added. "We know that it is currently spreading throughout San Diego County. We need everyone to come together and take action to try and limit that spread."

Smaller gatherings can continue, officials said, but should follow a social distancing guideline of six feet of separation between participants.

Officials also strongly advised residents ages 65 and older and anyone with a chronic illness to stay home and avoid large crowds.

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In light of the growing number of cases worldwide, the World Health Organization announced Wednesday that the new coronavirus had become a "pandemic." The pandemic declaration refers to the scope of COVID-19 — but not its severity — and means it has become a "worldwide spread of a new disease."

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019 is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is currently no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Related coverage:

• Over 300 Cruise Ship Evacuees Begin Quarantine At MCAS Miramar
• Cruise Ship Evacuees Arrive At Miramar For Coronavirus Quarantine
• Coronavirus: San Diego County Extends Emergency Declaration
• Coronavirus: SDSU To Move Classes Online After Spring Break
• Coronavirus: UCSD Cancels In-Person Classes For Spring Quarter
• San Diego DA's Office Warns Of Coronavirus-Related Price Gouging
• Coronavirus: Handwashing Stations Placed Throughout County