City, county, school officials weigh in

CDC offers tips on outbreak, how to be ‘household-ready’

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided guidelines on how to be “household-ready” in the case there is a COVID-19 outbreak in a community.

As of Tuesday, there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in the Santa Clarita Valley; however, there are 20 confirmed cases of the virus in Los Angeles County, according to Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

Of the 20 cases, one case has an unidentified source of exposure, which is the county’s first case of

community transmission.

As confirmed cases of the virus rise, the CDC has recommended communities make a household plan of action to prepare for the possibility of an outbreak.

Meet individuals’ needs in plan

Members included in the household plan will all have different needs. Communicating these is essential in creating an effective plan for everyone in the household.

For example, individuals with an underlying chronic medical condition may be at risk for more serious complications from the virus. Public health officials suggest higher-risk patients consult with their health care

provider for more information on how to monitor their symptoms.

The CDC suggests families designate a room that could be used to separate sick members of the family from healthy members.

Plan for closures, telework

If an outbreak does occur, the community could expect school closures and changes in the workplace.

These dismissals would be recommended to help slow the spread of illness, according to a county public health news release.

With this in mind, individuals should begin preparing for alternative child care if school is dismissed. Also, employees should begin discussing sick-leave policies and work-from-home options with their employers.