The Normal Coronas virus, the proclamation of local emergency and the Department of Public Health Declaration of the Local Health Emergency.

Since we scheduled this announcement, our Department of Public Health has determined that there are additional new cases in Los Angeles County, which our director of public health will detail in a moment.

First, I want to inform the public at that, as the chair of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, I have just signed a proclamation declaring the existence of a local emergency.

I want to reiterate that this is not a response wounded in panic.

We've been preparing with our local, state and federal partners for the likelihood of this scenario.

This declaration of a local emergency will facilitate our efforts to coordinate with all our partners and jointly implement effective strategies to protect our residents.

It is one of those days that, um, way new perhaps this was coming, but L.

A county's prepared and I really do want Thio give a shout out to our Department of Public Health.

Our director and her staff, as well as our partnership with the city of Los Angeles as well as our partners at the federal level of government.

This isn't something totally new to us.

But I would say to you that we have been working our staff behind the scenes to understand and be prepared for what is to come, and it's not with a light heart.

It's really more of a steady and how could I say Ah, forward thinking of how we can better prepare our 10 million residents in the last 48 hours alone.

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A County Department of Public Health has confirmed six new cases of the Noble Corona virus in our community to ensure that the county is friend of prepared.

These two declarations of emergency will allow us to further drawdown.

Resource is from both the federal and state levels of government.

We need every tool at our disposal to make sure we're ready to support any Corona virus patients who are diagnosed and to prevent any further spread.

There's been too much misinformation spreading around, and as we expected, it's cultivating fears and is leading to racial profiling.

We must also ensure we take preventive measures to help prevent the spread of the virus, including washing our hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding close contact with people who are sick to stay home.

If you are feeling sick on the need for us to work cooperatively and proactively to slow the spread of cove in 19 the disease caused by the novel Corona virus, the L.

A County Department of Public Health through the authority of our health officer, Dr Davis is also declaring a local health emergency today.

These actions support our preparedness efforts, including effectively mobilizing needed resource is and partnerships, enhancing continuity of operations, planning and seeking and utilizing mutual aid, all in an effort to slow the spread of covert 19 and to address any challenges that may arise with increased cases and community transmission.

We've come together across Los Angeles County this morning to offer this information this guidance and I hope, some reassurance to the residents of Los Angeles about covert 19.

We've all seen the headlines and follow the news.

You know, the threat of this virus has introduced the community is not just here in this country, but around the globe.

But I'm a message is that the city of Los Angeles, other cities in the county and the county of Los Angeles have done everything possible to be ready.

But this is everybody's responsibility.

We have to be prepared.

We have to protect the well being of our loved ones and our neighbors.

But before I say more about the things that we're doing the city, I think it's very important for us to also recognize that this isn't just something for government to do alone.

But it's critically important in our workplace is critically important in our households that we each take responsibility for slowing the spread of what we know is now here, and we'll be here to limit our own exposure, but not to panic, but instead to be prepared.

This morning I signed as well in coordination with Supervisor Bargor being in touch with me a declaration of local emergency for the city of Los Angeles.

This is important.

We're not saying the situation in Los Angeles is dramatically worse.

What we're saying in this echoes what the CDC is saying.

Potential public health risk is elevated and significant.

We expect to see more cases.

As we announced here today.