Last updated 3/30/20
Where is the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak in the United States?
The total number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is currently 140,904 (with
2,405 deaths.) See community spread by state below. The CDC reports that
among adults, 8 out of 10 deaths have been 65 years of age and older.*
Currently, in Los Angeles County, the total number of cases is 2,474 (with
44 deaths.)** This includes the following confirmed cases by age:
*An
interactive map on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website for the United States
is updated Monday through Friday.
**Information about our area is updated daily on the
Los Angeles County Deparment of Public Health (LACDPH) website.
What is community spread?
Community spread happens when people have been infected with the virus
in a community, including some who are not sure how or where they became
infected, and have not traveled to countries where the virus has been
circulating. The CDC reports that the United States is currently in the
"initiation phase." States where community spread is occurring
are in the "acceleration phase." The duration and severity of
each phase can vary depending on the characteristics of the virus and
the public health response. All 50 states have reported COVID-19 cases,
with most reporting some community spread.
Four states are currently experiencing widespread community spread with
more than 5001 cases:
- New York (59,219)
- New Jersey (13,386)
- California (5,739)
- Michigan (5,486)
There are 16 states experiencing widespread or distinct clusters of community
spread with more than 1,001 cases each:
- Massachusetts (4,955)
- Florida (4,768)
- Illinois (4,596)
- Washington (4,506)
- Louisiana (3,540)
- Pennsylvania (3,394)
- Georgia (2,703)
- Texas (2,552)
- Colorado (2,307)
- Connecticut (1,993)
- Ohio (1,653)
- Tennessee (1,537)
- Indiana (1,514)
- North Carolina (1,307)
- Maryland (1,239)
- Virginia (1,020)
What is social distancing and why is it needed?
Recently, federal, state and local government officials have started taking
steps to stop or slow down the spread of this highly contagious disease.
This is called "social distancing" and may include the closure
of schools, community centers, businesses, theaters, fitness centers,
places of worship, and suspending all indoor and outdoor events. There
are also travel bans between some countries and the United States. Officials
may announce other measures in the coming weeks.
On March 20, Mayor Garcetti placed additional restrictions in the Safer
at Home emergency order, ordering residents of the City of Los Angeles
to stay in their residences and limit all activities outside of their
homes beyond what is absolutely necessary for essential tasks. Activities
outside the home are limited to health care visits, and getting food and
essential supplies. Most people are ordered to stop going to their places
of employment (certain jobs are exempt). This Order is in place until
April 20 and may be extended. A list of businesses that will stay open
and FAQs about what you can and can't do are on the City of Los Angeles
Safer at Home FAQs page. More information about the steps that Mayor Garcetti has taken for our
area is on the
City of Los Angeles coronavirus website.
What are the symptoms, testing, and treatment options for someone who has COVID-19?
There have been a wide range of illness reported from mild to severe, with
symptoms appearing in 2 to 14 days after exposure. In the mild cases,
common symptoms, which usually begin gradually, are fever, dry cough (no
mucus or phlegm is produced), and tiredness. Some patients may have headache,
muscle aches, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, and digestive issues
such as loss of appetite or diarrhea. Some people become infected but
don't develop any symptoms and don't feel sick. Severe symptoms
have included fever, pneumonia (infection of the lung tissue), shortness
of breath, difficulty breathing, acute dry cough, persistent pain or pressure
in the chest, and bluish lips or face. If you have these or other severe
symptoms you should get medical attention immediately.
Not everyone needs to be tested, and most people (about 80%) recover from
the disease without needing special treatment. There is no specific treatment
for illnesses caused by COVID-19 however many of the symptoms can be treated.
Generally, it depends on the severity of the case and the patient's
medical condition and history.
More information about what you should do if you think you have COVID-19
symptoms is on our
COVID-19 FAQs page.
When will a COVID-19 patient be isolated or quarantined?
Public health actions that are used to limit the spread of the virus include
isolation and quarantine. Isolation is used when a person is sick with
COVID-19 and is isolated from other people in their own homes. In more
severe cases a sick patient will be isolated in hospitals and other healthcare
facilities, away from other patients. In most cases isolation is voluntary,
but health officials have the power to require isolation of sick people
to protect the public's health.
When a person is quarantined they are separated from others because they
have tested positive for the virus but are not sick. Even though they
are not sick at the moment, if they were exposed to the disease, they
may still become infectious and spread the disease to others.
Where can the public get up-to-date information?
Please check our main
COVID-19 portal page which will be regularly updated with the latest information from
Valley Presbyterian Hospital, including links to event and class cancellations
as well as messages from our CEO.
Our
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) page provides answers to many questions such as how to prevent the COVID-19
virus and what to do if you think you have it.
Our
Resources page has links to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health, City of Los Angeles, and World Health Organization
for up-to-date information locally, nationally and worldwide.
Return to COVID-19 portal page