Mendocino County Declares ‘Public Health Emergency in Order to Prepare for Future Novel Coronavirus Activity’

Press release from the County of Mendocino:

In partnership with Mendocino County Chief Executive Officer/Office of Emergency Services Director, Carmel J. Angelo and Mendocino County Health Officer, Dr. Noemi (Mimi) Doohan, the County has declared a public health emergency in order to prepare for future Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) activity in our community.

While Mendocino County still has ZERO cases of COVID-19 and ZERO persons under investigation, this emergency declaration has been made proactively as surrounding counties do have recent COVID-19 activity.

A declaration of emergency is a legal document that opens the door to further resources and coordination between local, state and federal agencies; helps speed up emergency planning; and, assists in emergency contracts or staffing. This declaration also allows for reimbursement by state and federal governments for local government initiatives that lessen the impact of an emergency.

“The situation surrounding this novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, continues to evolve rapidly,” said Dr. Doohan.  “This declaration will allow us as a County to deploy additional state and federal resources, and I am confident that this will help us be as prepared as possible to respond to COVID-19 activity.”

Mendocino County has worked daily with local, state and national officials since early January to monitor and respond to COVID-19. Mendocino County Public Health is working in close coordination with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as health care providers throughout the Mendocino County.

More information will be shared tomorrow through Mendocino County’s Press Conference on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). This information will be live streamed through the County’s website.  Sheriff Matt Kendall and County Health Officer Noemi Doohan will be presenting, in addition to other local dignitaries.

This Press Conference forum is designed for media personnel, but the public is welcome to watch from the County’s YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/MendocinoCountyVideo) or Facebook page

(www.facebook.com/mendocinocounty/). For your benefit and the benefit of our community, we ask that you not attend work, school or community events in person if you have symptoms of influenza or other respiratory illness (i.e. cough, fever).

Please visit www.mendocinocounty.org for the latest local news on COVID-19. For general health related questions or other concerns regarding COVID-19, please call Mendocino County’s Call Center at (707) 234-6052 or email [email protected]. The call center will be open during regular business hours, Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Earlier Chapters:

• CDC Says California Now Has Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus
• One Case of Covid-19 (Previously Known as Novel Coronavirus) in Humboldt County
• Answering Questions About Covid-19 (AKA the Coronavirus) in Humboldt County
• Trinity Co. DHHS Asks Residents Who Have Traveled to Hubei Province, China, or Have Had Direct Contact With Someone Who Has to Contact Them
• Guidance for Business Owners on How to Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19)
• Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services Says They Cannot Confirm a Second Case of COVID-19
• Washington Post Reports New Coronavirus Case in Northern California of ‘Unknown Origin’; DHHS Says Not Humboldt County
• State and Federal Response Lacks Places to Quarantine COVID-19 as Pandemic Evolves
• Of Cannabis and Covid-19
• Humboldt County Covid – 19 Patient released After No Longer Showing Symptoms
• UPDATE 10:40 a.m.: Breaking News, First US Death]Humboldt County Prepares as COVID-19 Cases Continue to Emerge Across the Nation
• Second US Resident Dead in Covid-19 Outbreak
• Six Now Dead in the US as Covid-19 Takes Further Toll in Seattle Area
• First California Death From Coronavirus; 11 Total Dead in the US
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Updated Guidance for Travelers Returning from Countries With High Rates of COVID-19 Transmission