New spike in Coronavirus cases in Santa Cruz County
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY (Calif.)
The Santa Cruz Public Health Division has announced that three more cases of Coronavirus have been identified in the county.
This brings the total number of Coronavirus cases in Santa Cruz County to seven.
A statement from the county says many more people have been tested in recent days and therefore many more cases are expected.
The Santa Cruz County Public Health Division is reportedly in daily contact and actively monitoring all the cases.
Because of the recent spike in cases, the county now considers itself to have community spread.
"We have shifted our efforts away from containment and towards mitigation," Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said.
"We continue to work closely with our regional, state and national partners in our efforts to lessen the impact of COVID-19," according to Dr. Newel.
The Centers for Disease Control has provided an explanation of how community spread works. We have included it below.
Stay with KION News for more updates on this and other developing stories.
Person-to-person spread
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through 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.
Can someone spread the virus without being sick?
- People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
- Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects
It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
