Prevention and Health Information & Advice
Updated Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.
LACCD Stay Safe Campaign
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If you are feeling stressed, depressed, or anxious and need to talk
with someone contact:
L.A. County Dept. of Mental Health 24/7
Access Line: (800) 854-7771
Text: "LA" to 741741
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Additional Online Resources for Mental Health Assistance:
https://dmh.lacounty.gov/covid-19-information/
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To learn more about COVID-19 testing, and to see if you are eligible, please visit:
What is a coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Many of them infect animals, but some coronaviruses from animals can evolve (change) into a new human coronavirus that can spread from person-to-person. This is what happened with the new coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease known as COVID-19. Diseases from coronaviruses in people typically cause mild to moderate illness, like the common cold. Some, like the SARS or MERS viruses cause serious infections like pneumonia.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. These symptoms may appear 2–14 days after exposure to the virus:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
How is novel coronavirus treated?
There is no specific treatment for illness caused by the novel coronavirus. However, many of the symptoms can be treated. Treatment is based on the patient’s condition.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent novel coronavirus. Be aware of scam products for sale that make false claims to prevent or treat this new infection.
Prevention Advice
All federal, state and local health officials advise the best prevention against any virus is to frequently Wash Your Hands with soap and water. Alternative, if available, is to use hand sanitizer with at least a 60-percent alcohol solution.
- Wash Your Hands!
- Stop touching your eyes, nose and mouth, especially with unwashed hands
- Cover all coughs and sneezes with tissue or bent elbow. Wash Your Hands
- Frequently clean highly touches surfaces and objects
- Stay home is you are sick, even if only mildly ill
- Keep your sick children home too
- Stay away from others who are sick
- If sick, call your primary care physician first before going to their office, urgent care or hospital
- Be prepared at home and work for this or any emergency with enough supplies for you and your household, including pets, for at least a week
- Expect the situation to change. Stay calm. Stay alert. Stay informed.
There continues to be no recommendation by the L.A. County Department of Public Health for healthy people to wear masks or gloves. Doing so is a personal choice, and may do nothing to prevent you from becoming infected or sick, according to health officials. Masks are used by people who are sick and healthcare professionals who are treating them.
Updated March 20, 2020
- CALIFORNIA GOV. NEWSOM; L.A. COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER & COUNTY ELECTED LEADERS ISSUE "SAFER AT HOME" ORDERS THROUGH APRIL 19
and
- LACCD BOARD APPROVES STATE OF EMERGENCY RESOLUTION
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is cooperating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to respond to reports of a novel (new) coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing respiratory illness in people and others that circulate mostly among animals. Common symptoms in an infected person include fever, cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.