OCHCA Urges Coronavirus Precautions
Public health officials at the OC Health Care Agency (OCHCA) are encouraging residents to take adequate safety precautions in the wake of increasing COVID-19 cases in the county. Currently, there are no plans to implement a new mask mandate in Orange County; however, those who are not fully vaccinated must continue wearing a mask indoors in accordance with guidelines from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
In line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), OCHCA is reminding individuals to avoid large crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, especially those who are not fully vaccinated or who live with others who are unvaccinated or have high health risk of contracting COVID-19. More than 90% of new positive cases are among people who are not fully vaccinated, and more than 95% of those hospitalized with COVID-19 had not been fully vaccinated. According to the CDC, all COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the United States are effective against COVID-19, including serious outcomes like severe disease, hospitalization and death.
Testing also remains a critical component of the County’s strategy to reduce viral transmission. Self-collection, at-home COVID-19 test kits are available at no cost by visiting www.ochealthinfo.com/covidtest. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, please seek testing, regardless of vaccination status.
To keep the community informed, OCHCA is reporting Orange County COVID-19 case counts and testing figures Monday through Friday. OCHCA encourages individuals who remain hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine through credible sources including the CDC, the CDPH, the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization.
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