California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly hosted a video conference Tuesday with the latest on the state’s response to COVID-19 as wildfires continue to burn throughout California. While face coverings help protect people from the virus, Ghaly said staying inside whenever possible is the best way to avoid unhealthy air quality from fires. Californians also need to heed any fire evacuation orders, Ghaly noted. “And now, we’re telling many folks who haven’t left their homes for months, who are worried about their exposure to COVID, that it’s safer to leave than to stay,” Ghaly said. “And that direction is indeed true. The risk of fire is a temporary one, albeit a very serious one. We can mitigate the COVID-19 risks with your cooperation and as communities. So, please, heed to those directions to evacuate.”As of mid-morning Tuesday, there were more than 676,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in California and over 12,000 deaths related to the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University.>> Watch Ghaly’s full briefing in the video belowNew COVID-19 data presented by Ghlay: State’s positivity rate is 5.7% over seven days; 6.3% over 14 days Hospital rates declined 19% in last 14 days ICU admission rates declined about 18% in last 14 days“All in all, these are numbers that continue to show stabilization of COVID-19 transmission in our communities, and its impact on our hospitals is improving. However, as we talked about last week, the confluence coming together of flu in the fall and winter with COVID-19 now continues to keep us vigilant and working hard to make sure our systems are ready and all of our messaging is out there for people to follow.”Ghaly said last week that the number of children vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella as they prepare to enter elementary school plummeted when schools and businesses closed in the spring, and childhood vaccinations have generally fallen from a year ago. The flu usually stresses hospitals, which are also now grappling with coronavirus cases, especially in children, he said. — The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly hosted a video conference Tuesday with the latest on the state’s response to COVID-19 as wildfires continue to burn throughout California.
While face coverings help protect people from the virus, Ghaly said staying inside whenever possible is the best way to avoid unhealthy air quality from fires. Californians also need to heed any fire evacuation orders, Ghaly noted.
“And now, we’re telling many folks who haven’t left their homes for months, who are worried about their exposure to COVID, that it’s safer to leave than to stay,” Ghaly said. “And that direction is indeed true. The risk of fire is a temporary one, albeit a very serious one. We can mitigate the COVID-19 risks with your cooperation and as communities. So, please, heed to those directions to evacuate.”
As of mid-morning Tuesday, there were more than 676,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in California and over 12,000 deaths related to the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University.
>> Watch Ghaly’s full briefing in the video below
This content is imported from Facebook.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
New COVID-19 data presented by Ghlay:
- State’s positivity rate is 5.7% over seven days; 6.3% over 14 days
- Hospital rates declined 19% in last 14 days
- ICU admission rates declined about 18% in last 14 days
“All in all, these are numbers that continue to show stabilization of COVID-19 transmission in our communities, and its impact on our hospitals is improving. However, as we talked about last week, the confluence coming together of flu in the fall and winter with COVID-19 now continues to keep us vigilant and working hard to make sure our systems are ready and all of our messaging is out there for people to follow.”
Ghaly said last week that the number of children vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella as they prepare to enter elementary school plummeted when schools and businesses closed in the spring, and childhood vaccinations have generally fallen from a year ago. The flu usually stresses hospitals, which are also now grappling with coronavirus cases, especially in children, he said.
— The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.