SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County health officials on Monday announced that a person who traveled to Seattle – and returned on a commercial flight in late February – became the second confirmed case of coronavirus after a test on Sunday.
The person, about whom health officials are releasing no information, likely contracted the virus before returning, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel wrote in a press release.
“Unfortunately, this new case confirms that COVID-19 is present in our community and is not an isolated case,” Newel stated. “I urge all community members to take steps to protect themselves and their families.”
The Health Services Agency (HSA) is investigating to identify who the person was in contact with, and to notify those people.
“The person is now in isolation, and recovering,” said Santa Cruz County Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci at an afternoon press conference.
The HSA announced the county’s first case on Saturday in a person who traveled to Mexico aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship on a trip Feb. 11-21.
The HSA is monitoring several other county residents who were also on the ship, although the agency would not give a specific number. It also declined to say where in the county the two people with the virus live.
The HSA also released a set of “social distancing” guidelines designed to slow the spread of the virus, including suggestions such as cancelling meetings of 50 or more people, allowing employees to work from home, staying home if sick and cancelling “non-essential” meetings.
“Don’t go anywhere if you’re sick,” HSA Director Mimi Hall said.
Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. These may appear in as few as two or up to 14 days after exposure. Anyone with these symptoms should call a healthcare provider.
Ghilarducci pointed out that COVID-19 is non-lethal for most people, but said the virus is particularly dangerous for people over 60 and people with pre-existing conditions.
“It’s really, really serious,” Hall said. “So until there is a vaccine available, it’s incredibly important that all of us do what we can as individual citizens to stay home, to not go out unnecessarily, so that we can be a part of slowing that transmission.”
The agency also released guidelines for workplaces.
Also known as COVID-19, coronavirus has grabbed headlines as it has spread worldwide, with more than 110,000 cases and 3,800 deaths.
Ghilarducci said that the number of cases in Santa Cruz County will likely increase.
He also urged the community to prepare for possible disruptions that might be caused by an outbreak, including having an emergency preparedness kit and extra supplies, and to plan for possible school closures of up to 14 days.
What is most important, Hall said, is to stay home if sick.
“Our goal is to slow the disease trajectory,” she said. “We know that the disease needs people to spread. So if we lessen the time people spend amongst each other, and the number of people who gather at one time, what we can do is slow the disease curve in our community.”
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As of Monday, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees was still planning on holding its bi-monthly meeting on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, which meets Tuesday morning, will provide a separate room for the public to make comments.
The Watsonville City Council, which meets Tuesday night, is allowing the public to comment via email, and a staffer will read them to the board.
Classes are continuing as usual at Cabrillo College, spokeswoman Kristin Fabos said, adding that the college is following guidance from the California Department of Public Health.
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For information, visit www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus and https://rdcrss.org/3cMkHdd.
