California declares coronavirus emergency

California declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after reported the first death from coronavirus in the state.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday made the declaration in order to receive emergency federal funding to battle the coronavirus, which has killed more than 3,250 people and infected more than 95,000 globally. The coronavirus causes a respiratory disease known as COVID-19.

The US has reported more than 150 COVID-19 cases, including 53 in California. Cases have been confirmed in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Los Angeles (which confirmed six new cases on Wednesday), Orange, Placer (where one patient died), Sacramento, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma.

The country has also confirmed 11 coronavirus deaths: 10 in Washington state and one in Placer County, California, located near Sacramento.

"The State of California is deploying every level of government to help identify cases and slow the spread of this coronavirus," 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 also includes provisions to protect consumers from price gouging and allows for out-of-state healthcare workers to assist facilities at the frontlines of the coronavirus battle.

The California Department of Public Health said it was working closely with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to respond to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the state, including screening incoming passengers at both Los Angeles International (LAX) and San Francisco International (SFO) airports.

 

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