Dear ,

As you may have seen, yesterday, Mayor Eric Garcetti declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles to support efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

As a former health care professional, it is important to me to note that a state of emergency does not mean that there is a massive outbreak of the coronavirus in Los Angeles.

This declaration is an important preventative step to combat the further spread of this disease. In order to assist this prevention effort, the House of Representatives yesterday passed an $8.3 billion spending measure to fund the federal government’s response to the coronavirus and to assist state and local governments. I hope the President will support this robust response.

One of the best ways to prevent the spread of this disease is to remain in the know. I urge you to continue to heed the advice and guidance of health care professionals as new information about the disease emerges.

I’ve had my staff compile resources regarding the disease below, I hope you find them useful.

Sincerely,



Karen Bass
Member of Congress


Trusted resources on the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19):

For the latest updates from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, click here.

For the latest updates from the California Department of Public Health, click here.

For the latest updates from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), click here.

For the latest updates from the World Health Organization (WHO), click here.

Frequently asked questions on the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19):

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Typically, human coronaviruses cause mild-to-moderate respiratory illness. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, including:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

In some cases, COVID-19 can cause more severe respiratory illness.

What can the public do to limit the spread of COVID-19?
The California Department of Public Health recommends the following steps to prevent the spread of all respiratory viruses:

• Washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
• Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough