California declares state of emergency to contain coronavirus after 1st death

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus as a cruise ship that transported at least two infected passengers sailed toward the state Wednesday.

One patient who had traveled on the ship died Wednesday in Placer County, marking the first death in California connected to the viruses that has spread to dozens of countries.

Newsom described the man’s death as a “profound moment in our state.”

“Our hearts go out to that individual,” he said.

The emergency declaration will allow the state to respond more nimbly by waiving some competitive bidding requirements and freeing up public property, such as fairgrounds, for use by health officials.

It also includes provisions to protect against price gouging for items such as hand sanitizer and face masks. During a press conference at the Capitol, Newsom held up a small bottle of sanitizer that he said was selling for $17.

“That’s unconscionable,” he said.

The Placer County patient who died tested positive for the virus after taking a cruise to Mexico in February. After returning to California and dropping off passengers, the ship then traveled to Hawaii. It was scheduled to return to San Francisco this evening, but Newsom said the ship will remain offshore.

Thousands of people were on the Mexico cruise, most of whom are California residents. Officials are currently contacting and monitoring the other passengers, Newsom said.

Newsom said 11 passengers and 10 crew members currently aboard the Grand Princess Cruise ship have reported symptoms of the virus. The state will fly coronavirus tests to the ship, which will be docked offshore to give officials time to test people aboard.

Newsom said it will be a matter of hours before officials get test results showing whether the passengers and crew members exhibiting symptoms have the virus.

“They’ll be a distance away until all of the protocols and security regimes are put in place,” Newsom said.

The emergency declaration comes the same day the state learned it will receive $37 million in federal emergency funds to fight the virus.

“It’s not about money, it’s about adding tools to the toolkit,” Newsom says of the declaration.

Coronavirus, known as COVID-19, is spread through contact between people within six feet of each other, especially through coughing and sneezing that expels respiratory droplets that land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s possible to catch COVID-19 by touching something that has the virus on it, and then touching your own face, “but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”

Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath, which may occur two days to two weeks after exposure. The disease is especially dangerous for the elderly and others with weaker immune systems.

So far, more than 94,000 cases have been reported worldwide, with about 3,200 deaths, the vast majority of them in China. In the U.S.,128 cases have been reported, including nine deaths in Washington state out of 32 reported cases. In California, 53 cases have been reported and 9,400 people who have flown internationally are being monitored, Newsom said.

People who think they may have coronavirus should call ahead to their public health department, hospital or doctor’s office before arriving in person, California Public Health Department Director Sonia Angell said during the news conference. That will allow medical professionals to take safety precautions ahead of time to try to contain the spread of the virus, she said.