Visit CDPH News Releases for daily COVID-19 updates.
En Español: Para obtener información en español, visite nuestra página de COVID-19.
Regional Stay At Home Order 12/03/2020
Order of the State Public Health Officer 8/28/2020 (PDF)
Order of the State Public Health Officer 7/13/2020 (PDF)
On December 3, there were 25,068 newly recorded confirmed cases. Numbers do not represent true day-over-day change as these results include cases from prior than yesterday. The state now has a total of 1,311,625 positive cases. There have been a total of 19,791 deaths in the state.
For county level data, access the COVID-19 Public Dashboard.
For skilled nursing facility data, visit Skilled Nursing Facilites: COVID-19.
For age group data, visit Cases and Deaths Associated with COVID-19 by Age Group in California.
Racial Demographics - A More Complete Picture
The California Department of Public Health is committed to health equity
and collecting more detailed racial and ethnic data that will provide
additional understanding for determining future action. Health outcomes are
affected by forces including structural racism, poverty and the
disproportionate prevalence of underlying conditions such as asthma and heart
disease among Latinos and African American Californians. Only by looking at the
full picture can we understand how to ensure the best outcomes for all
Californians.
The differences in health outcomes related to COVID-19 are most stark in COVID-19 deaths. We have nearly complete data on race and ethnicity for COVID-19 deaths, and we are seeing the following trends: Latinos, African Americans and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are dying at disproportionately higher levels. More males are dying from COVID-19 than females, in line with national trends.
For the additional information, visit COVID-19 Race and Ethnicity Data.
Testing in California
Twenty-five public health labs in California are testing samples for COVID-19. These labs include the California Department of Public Health's Laboratory in Richmond, Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, Fresno, Humboldt, Imperial, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monterey, Napa-Solano-Yolo-Marin (located in Solano), Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Shasta, Sonoma, Tulare and Ventura County public health laboratories. The Richmond Laboratory will provide diagnostic testing within a 48-hour turnaround time. This means California public health officials will get test results sooner, so that patients will get the best care. Additional information on testing and locations to get tested in California can be found on the Testing and Treatment page.
How can people protect themselves?
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The virus spreads mainly from person-to-person between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). This occurs by respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Surfaces can also get infected. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like hypertension, obesity, heart or lung disease , diabetes or asthma seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. Every person has a role to play. So much of protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense:
Stay home except for essential needs/activities.
Practice physical distancing – stay 6 feet away from people.
Wear a cloth face mask if you leave home.
Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. If surfaces are dirty, clean them using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow or a tissue. Wash hands afterwards.
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home and away from people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.
If you smoke or vape, consider quitting. Smoking and vaping causes harm to the lungs.
Follow guidance from public health officials.
Please consult with your health care provider about additional steps you may be able to take to protect yourself.
Who is at Higher Risk for Serious Illness from COVID-19?
Early information out of China, where COVID-19 first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. This includes:
- Smokers
- Older adults (65+)
- Individuals with compromised immune systems
- Individuals who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Lung disease
If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or health condition, it is important for you to take extra actions to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease:
- Stay home. It's the most important thing you can do.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick. Isolate anyone sick in your home in a separate room, if possible.
- Consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks. Wipe off containers with disinfectant wipes.
It is also important that you listen to public health officials who may recommend community actions to reduce potential exposure to COVID-19, especially if COVID-19 is spreading in your community.
For more information visit the CDC's website.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Typically, human coronaviruses cause mild-to-moderate respiratory illness. Symptoms are wide ranging and can be similar to the flu, including:
COVID-19 can cause more severe respiratory illness. If you have any of the emergency warning signs listed below, you should contact your medical provider immediately:
What if I have symptoms?
Patient: If a person develops symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough or shortness of breath, and has reason to believe they may have been exposed, they should call their health care provider before seeking care. Contacting them in advance will make sure that people can get the care they need without putting others at risk. Please be sure to tell your health care provider about your travel history. You can also take the following precautionary measures: avoid contact with sick individuals, wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
Health Care Provider: Patients who may have infection with this novel coronavirus should wear a surgical mask and be placed in an airborne infection isolation room. If an airborne infection isolation room is not available, the patient should be placed in a private room with the door closed. Health care providers should use standard, contact and airborne precautions and use eye protection. Please see "
Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China" for more information about infection control. The Public Health Department will issue All Facility Letters to regulated healthcare facilities within California with updated information and guidance; these can be found on the
AFL webpage.
What should you do if you think you're sick?
Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.
Necesito Hacerme La Prueba Del Covid-19? (PNG)
What is the treatment for COVID-19?
From the international data we have, of those who have tested positive for COVID-19, approximately 80 percent do not exhibit symptoms that would require hospitalization. For patients who are more severely ill, hospitals can provide supportive care. We are continuing to learn more about this novel coronavirus and treatment may change over time.
What if I don’t have health insurance and I need screening or treatment for COVID-19?
How is it decided whether a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19 can self-isolate at home or must be confined to a hospital or elsewhere?
Local health departments are working in partnership with the California Department of Public Health and the CDC, and making determinations on whether a person ill with COVID-19 requires hospitalization or if home isolation is appropriate. That decision may be based on multiple factors including severity of illness, need for testing, and appropriateness of home for isolation purposes.
What is Social Distancing?
Social distancing is a practice recommended by public health officials to stop or slow down the spread of contagious diseases. It requires the creation of physical space between individuals who may spread certain infectious diseases. The key is to minimize the number of gatherings as much as possible and to achieve space between individuals when events or activities cannot be modified, postponed, or canceled. Achieving space between individuals of approximately six feet is advisable. Additionally, there is a particular focus on creating space between individuals who have come together on a one-time or rare basis and who have very different travel patterns such as those coming from multiple countries, states or counties.
For more information, see the Gathering Guidance.
Should I wear a mask?
California’s public health officials released updated guidance on June 18 on the use of cloth face coverings by the general public worn outside the home. It mandates that face coverings be worn state-wide in the circumstances and with the exceptions outlined in the guidance. It does not substitute for existing guidance about social distancing and handwashing.
The use of cloth face coverings could reduce the transmission of COVID-19 by individuals who do not have symptoms and may reinforce physical distancing. Public health officials also caution that face coverings may increase risk if users reduce their use of strong defenses such as physical distancing and frequent hand washing.
Please see the updated guidance (PDF) for more information.
What is the state doing to protect our health?
California has been actively and extensively planning with our local public health and health care delivery systems.
Here are some of the actions California is taking to combat COVID-19:
- Directed Californians to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus
- Made testing free for most Californians who are medically eligible for testing
- Ensured students continue to learn and get meals even when schools physically close
- Deployed the California National Guard to work at food banks
- Distributed millions of N95 masks and other protective gear to health care workers, with more to come soon
- Secured travel trailers and hotels to house people experiencing homelessness
Can I travel?
You can travel for urgent matters or if such travel is essential to your permitted work. Even though businesses around the state are opening up, avoid travelling long distances for vacations or pleasure as much as possible. This is to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Do not travel if you are sick, or if someone in your household has had coronavirus in the last two weeks. Do not travel with someone who is sick.
Before travelling away from your community, consider these questions from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) travel guidance:
Is coronavirus spreading where you are traveling?
Are you or those you are traveling with more likely to get very sick from coronavirus?
Will you be able to keep 6 feet of physical distance from others during or after your trip?
If you do travel, take steps to keep everyone safe like wearing a face covering, keeping 6 feet of physical distance from those not in your household, and washing your hands frequently.
More info: Stay home Q&A
What should I do if I am unable to work after being exposed to COVID-19?
Individuals who are unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) can file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim.
Disability Insurance provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50 - $1,300 a week.
Californians who are unable to work because they are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) can file a Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim.
Paid Family Leave provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligibile workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50-$1,300 a week.
For more information related to resources for California's Employers and Workers, please visit this Labor and Workforce Development Agency webpage.
What is the difference between COVID-19 and other coronaviruses?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. There are some coronaviruses that commonly circulate in humans. These viruses cause mild to moderate respiratory illness, although rarely they can cause severe disease. COVID-19 is closely related to two other animal coronaviruses that have caused outbreaks in people—the SARS coronavirus and the MERS (middle east respiratory syndrome) coronavirus.
Guidance and Information
Public: COVID-19 General Information Line - Public Questions and Resources: 1-833-4CA4ALL (1-833-422-4255) Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PDT and Sat/Sun 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT
Media: If you are with a media outlet and have questions for the California Department of Public Health, please email CDPHPressOPA@cdph.ca.gov.
