Coronavirus In California: Latest Cases, Guidance, Updates & More

For updates on Coronavirus in California beginning March 16, please click here.

CALIFORNIA — With the outbreak of the new coronavirus officially dubbed a national pandemic, large businesses, schools and the State of California are all taking serious measures to prevent the rapid spread of the virus.

The state's most severe action so far came on Sunday, when Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered bars to close and asked seniors or those with chronic health conditions to stay home to slow the spread of the virus.

Earlier last week, the governor ordered the cancellation of gatherings with 250 or more people planned in the near future in the Golden State and on Thursday he extended that order. Friday, more and more organizations and schools announced their own closures, including several large districts across the state.

"The state’s public health experts have determined that gatherings should be postponed or canceled across the state until at least the end of March," an announcement from the office of Gov. Gavin Newsom states. "Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people, while smaller events can proceed only if the organizers can implement social distancing of 6 feet per person."

For the sake of this policy, a "gathering" is defined as "...as any event or convening that brings together people in a single room or single space at the same time, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, cafeteria, or any other indoor or outdoor space."

That means countless concerts, proms, sporting events, church services and more will all be on hold.

"Changing our actions for a short period of time will save the life of one or more people you know," Newsom said. "That’s the choice before us. Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease.

"Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects — saving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now. The people in our lives who are most at risk – seniors and those with underlying health conditions -- are depending on all of us to make the right choice."

On Thursday, the governor further extended the order. Per the governor's office, the executive order now:

• Waives the one-week waiting period for people who are unemployed and/or disabled as a result of COVID-19;
• Delays the deadline for state tax filing by 60 days for individuals and businesses unable to file on time based on compliance with public health requirements related to COVID-19 filings;
• Directs residents to follow public health directives and guidance, including to cancel large non-essential gatherings that do not meet state criteria;
• Readies the state to commandeer property for temporary residences and medical facilities for quarantining, isolating or treating individuals;
• Allows local or state legislative bodies to hold meetings via teleconference and to make meetings accessible electronically; and
• Allows local and state emergency administrators to act quickly to protect public health

The full executive order can be found here.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 continues to spread across the nation. According to Johns Hopkins University, there have been more than 2,900 confirmed cases in the United States and 57 deaths as of Sunday morning.

Here in California, public health officials report there are 335 confirmed cases of coronavirus, as of Saturday afternoon. There are six deaths in California linked to coronavirus, though one of those individuals was not a California resident. But severe shortages in test kits suggest that the true numbers may be higher.

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Who has been diagnosed with coronavirus in California?

Total number of cases (as of Friday at 4 p.m., the latest official numbers from the California Department of Public Health): 335

Total deaths: 6

Case breakdown, per the health department (totals may be outdated):

• 24 cases are from repatriation flights
• 65 cases are travel related
• 52 cases are due to person-to-person transmission,
• 56 cases are “community acquired”— meaning the people contracted the virus from someone in the local community (map of community transmission by county in California- PDF)
• 50 cases are from an unknown cause

Health officials said another 11,400 people are “self-monitoring” for signs of sickness after having traveled to areas with known outbreaks.

Here's what's happening with coronavirus in California:

Schools across the state are voluntarily closing their doors and major events are being canceled or postponed.

The latest updates are as follows:

Sunday, 3:46 p.m.: North County Fire Suspends Public Interactions Due To Coronavirus

North County firefighters will suspend most interactions with the public, including grocery store shopping during the coronavirus outbreak.

Sunday, 3:20 p.m.: Jury Trials Canceled In LA County Due To Coronavirus

All criminal and civil trials in Los Angeles County will be suspended for the rest of the month to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Sunday, 2:22 p.m.: CA Orders Seniors Home, Bars Closed Amid Coronavirus Crisis

The nation's most populous state has asked bars to close and seniors to stay indoors in an effort to keep the coronavirus from spreading.

Sunday, 1:25 p.m.: LAX Police Officer Tests Positive For Coronavirus

The LA County health department has been informed about the officer and is trying to identify others who may be at risk, LAX officials said.

Sunday, 1:12 p.m.: LA County Confirms 16 More Coronavirus Cases, Totaling 69

Los Angeles County health officials confirmed 16 more cases of coronavirus Sunday, and set up a new isolation zone for people at risk.

Sunday, 12:12 p.m.: Chula Vista City Councilman Says He Has Coronavirus

"Friends and neighbors, I want you to know that I've tested positive for COVID-19," Chula Vista City Councilman said in a video message.

Sunday, 11:42 a.m.: San Francisco Confirms 9 More Coronavirus Cases

San Francisco has now confirmed 37 coronavirus cases overall, including two healthcare workers at UCSF Health.

Sunday, 11:35 a.m.: Coronavirus Shuts Down NorCal Ski Resorts

The ski season in California came to an effective end this weekend, as ski resorts closed down due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Sunday, 10:35 a.m.: Pechanga Resort Casino Closes As Coronavirus Spreads In RivCo

Tribal leaders of the Pechanga Indian Reservation announced the closure of Pechanga Resort Casino in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sunday, 10:25 a.m.: LA Residents Asked Not To Hoard Food During Coronavirus Outbreak

Mayor Eric Garcetti and the LAPD urged Angelenos to not panic-shop for food and other supplies during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Sunday, 10:22 a.m.: Rep. Adam Schiff Says Former Staffer Has Coronavirus

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) said Sunday that a former staff member who left the office 10 days ago tested positive for COVID-19.

Sunday, 10:15 a.m.: Coronavirus Screening At LAX Causes Delays, Long Lines

The new COVID-19 screening at LAX Airport caused long lines Saturday that some feared could increase the risk of spreading the virus.

Sunday, 10:09 a.m.: LA Catholics Get Dispensation From Mass Due To Coronavirus

Catholics in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles have dispensation from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass during the coronavirus outbreak.

Sunday, 10:05 a.m.: LA Parks, Senior Centers Close Due To Coronavirus Concerns

The closure includes the Griffith Observatory, Travel Town, train rides, pony rides and the merry-go-round, officials said.

Sunday, 10:01 a.m.: LA Animal Shelters Limit Access During Coronavirus Outbreak

Animal shelters in Los Angeles are trying to reduce public access in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak by no longer issuing pet licenses.

Sunday, 9:53 a.m.: BART Ridership Plummets During Coronavirus Outbreak

BART's ridership on Friday saw a 50 percent drop compared to an average Friday due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the agency said.

Sunday, 9:45 a.m.: Redwood City Declares Emergency Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Redwood City declared a local public health emergency, giving the city flexibility to mobilize resources to slow the coronavirus.

Sunday, 9:41 a.m.: 1st Community Spread Coronavirus Case Reported In Sonoma County

Sonoma County officials on Saturday reported the county's first confirmed case of coronavirus contracted via "community spread."

Sunday, 9:36 a.m.: Coronavirus: Santa Rosa Schools Close After County Advisory

Sonoma County's largest district, Santa Rosa City Schools, is suspending in-person classes, and other districts are urged to do the same.

Sunday, 9:29 a.m.: Concord Declares Emergency Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Concord has declared a local state of emergency spurred by the coronavirus pandemic, which will allow the city to reallocate city resources.

Sunday, 9:24 a.m.: Caltrain, SamTrans Cut Peninsula Service Due To Coronavirus

Caltrain and SamTrans are limiting service in response to decreased ridership due to efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Sunday, 9:17 a.m.: UC Berkeley Grad Student Tests Positive For Coronavirus

The student is in good condition, has no serious symptoms and is self-isolating at their off-campus home, UC officials said Saturday.

Sunday, 9:09 a.m.: Groups Of 50 Or More Banned In San Mateo County: Coronavirus

San Mateo County is also banning gatherings between 10 and 50 people unless social distancing measures are put in place.

Saturday, 5:36 p.m.: San Diego Health Workers, Sailor Test Positive For Coronavirus

Two health workers at UC San Diego Health and a sailor from Naval Base San Diego have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said.

Saturday, 4:56 p.m.: Lakers, Clippers To Help Staples Center Workers Amid Coronavirus

The NBA's Lakers and Clippers and the NHL's Kings are teaming up with the Staples Center to help workers affected by the coronavirus.

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.: 2 New Coronavirus Cases Confirmed In Marin County

Health officials confirmed two new cases of COVID-19 in Marin County on Saturday, both apparently caused by community spread.

Saturday, 4:17 p.m.: 2 New Coronavirus Cases Confirmed In Riverside County

Health officials on Saturday confirmed two new COVID-19 cases in the Coachella Valley, bringing the county total to 14.

Saturday, 4:12 p.m.: Long Beach Confirms 1st Coronavirus Case By Community Spread

Long Beach officials announced a new case of coronavirus in Saturday, the city's fifth confirmed case and first likely by community spread.

Saturday, 4:09 p.m.: Fake Coronavirus Test Kits Seized At LAX, Officials Say

Counterfeit COVID-19 test kits were intercepted by CBP officers when they arrived at at LAX, authorities said Saturday.

Saturday, 3:27 p.m.: LA County Confirms 11 More Coronavirus Cases; Total At 53

Los Angeles County health officials confirmed 11 more local cases of coronavirus Saturday, bringing its total to at least 53.

Saturday, 1:35 p.m.: San Diego Museums, Theme Parks Close Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

The Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park Saturday became the latest San Diego attraction to close due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Saturday, 1:19 p.m.: LAX Airport To Start Screening Americans For Coronavirus

Federal authorities designated LAX one of 13 airports that will screen Americans returning from restricted countries for the coronavirus.

Saturday, 1:05 p.m.: Long Beach Postpones Pride Festival, Parade Due To Coronavirus

The 37th annual event, which brings thousands of people together is close proximity, was scheduled for May 16-17.

Saturday, 12:58 p.m.: Casinos In Los Angeles County Close Due To Coronavirus

Los Angeles County's card rooms and casinos Saturday became the latest businesses to announce closures due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Saturday, 11:45 a.m.: 17 New Coronavirus Cases Confirmed In Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County confirmed 17 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the county's total to at least 91.

Saturday, 11:28 a.m.: 8 Alameda Firefighters Quarantined After Coronavirus Confirmed

Eight Alameda firefighters have been quarantined after one firefighter tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, city officials said.

Saturday, 11:22 a.m.: VTA Suspends Some Transit Services Amid Coronavirus Closures

With all schools in Santa Clara County closed for three weeks, the Valley Transit Authority is suspending its "school tripper" service.

Saturday, 11:15 a.m.: 2nd Marine Tests Positive For Coronavirus At MCAS Miramar

A second Marine at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar has tested positive for COVID-19, military officials announced Saturday.

Saturday, 10:57 a.m.: Coronavirus: Contra Costa County Bans 100-Person Gatherings

Gatherings of 100 or more people will be banned Saturday in Contra Costa County in an attempt to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

Saturday, 10:41 a.m.: CoCo Buildings Close Lobbies To Limit Coronavirus Exposure

Seven county buildings are closing their lobbies to the public to limit exposure to the coronavirus, as Contra Costa County's cases grow.

Saturday, 10:33 a.m.: Sonoma Co. Orders Cancellation Of Large Gatherings: Coronavirus

Sonoma County on Friday joined other counties in ordering the cancellation of gatherings of 250 or more people due to the novel coronavirus.

Saturday, 10:29 a.m.: San Mateo County Libraries Close Due To Coronavirus

The San Mateo County Library is closing all locations starting Monday through March 31 due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Saturday, 10:00 a.m.: Culver City Senior Center Closes Due To Coronavirus

The Culver City Senior Center will close until further notice as a precautionary measure after the coronavirus was confirmed in the city.

Saturday, 9:57 a.m.: LA Public Libraries Close Over Coronavirus Fears

The 73 public libraries in Los Angeles will be closed through March 31 in response to the coronavirus, following the mayor's directive.

Saturday, 9:54 a.m.: Netflix Closes Hollywood Office After Coronavirus Exposure

Netflix sent workers home at its Sunset Boulevard offices after an exposure to a confirmed case of coronavirus, according to a report.

Saturday, 9:35 a.m.: Palos Verdes Peninsula USD Parent Has Coronavirus, District Says

A parent of students at Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District campuses has tested positive for the coronavirus, the district said.

Saturday, 9:26 a.m.: LA County Confirms 8 More Coronavirus Cases; Total Is 40

Los Angeles County confirmed eight more coronavirus cases this week, bringing the county's total to at least 40.

Saturday, 9:20 a.m.: Santa Monica Confirms First Coronavirus Case, Declares Emergency

Santa Monica declared a public health emergency, one day after announcing that an Apple Store worker tested positive for the coronavirus.

Saturday, 9:15 a.m.: Bay Area Company Approved To Produce Coronavirus Test Kits

Roche Molecular Solutions, based in Pleasanton, has been working on a coronavirus test for six weeks. Now they can use it.

Friday, 3:21 p.m.: San Francisco Unified To Provide Free Meals During Closure

The San Francisco Unified School District will offer free breakfast and lunch to children throughout the city during the temporary closure of schools to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Friday, 2:59 p.m.: UC Santa Cruz To Go Remote For Spring Quarter

The University of California, Santa Cruz announced Friday that it will conduct spring quarter classes and final exams remotely due to concerns about the new coronavirus. Students who have already left their dorms for their permanent residences are asked to remain there.

Friday, 3:15 p.m.: Goodguys Cancels 'All American Get-Together' In Pleasanton

Goodguys 38th All American Get-Together is the latest to join the growing list of events being scrapped throughout the Bay Area due to worries related to the new coronavirus.

Friday, 1:33 p.m.: School Districts To Close In Marin County

All public school districts in Marin County will be closed beginning Monday, March 16, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. All school campuses will cancel classes for at least two weeks, according to the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services and Marin County Office of Education.

Friday, 1:32 p.m.: San Mateo County Orders Three-Week School Shutdown

San Mateo County has issued an ordering a three-week closure of all public and private schools.

Friday, 1:11 p.m.: Santa Clara County Closes Schools, Bans Gatherings

Santa Clara County announced sweeping measures Friday to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak that includes the closure of all public schools and a new more restrictive ban on gatherings.

Friday, 12:38 p.m.: School Districts To Close In San Diego County

A number of school districts in San Diego County have announced closures amid growing concerns of the new coronavirus. Many schools will be closed beginning Monday, March 16, according to the San Diego County Office of Education.

Friday, 7:40 a.m. 3 New Coronavirus Cases Found In Santa Cruz County; Total of 7

Santa Cruz County said "more cases are expected." All public schools in the county will close next week.

Friday, 7:40 a.m. 4 New Coronavirus Cases In Alameda County; Total Of 7 Cases

Alameda County is now considered to have community spread, meaning some patients are unsure of how they were infected.

Thursday, 1:20 p.m.: Disneyland Resort Closes Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Disneyland announced that the popular theme park will be closed Saturday morning through the end of the month.

Thursday, 11 a.m.: Berkeley Cancels Festival Scheduled For May

An annual book festival in Berkeley is the latest event to be canceled out of concerns about the novel coronavirus.

Thursday, 9:56 a.m.: San Mateo County: Quarantined Former Cruise Passengers No Threat

San Mateo County is urging its residents to be compassionate after state officials announced Wednesday that some passengers previously quarantined on the Grand Princess cruise ship due to the novel corona virus will be temporarily housed at a San Carlos hotel.

Thursday, 9:50 a.m.: Over 300 Cruise Ship Evacuees Begin Quarantine At MCAS Miramar

More than 300 passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship are being quarantined at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.

Thursday, 3:36 a.m.: 2 More Coronavirus Cases Confirmed In Marin County

Two more Marin County residents have tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the total to three, county health officials announced Wednesday evening.

Wednesday, 5:59 p.m.: March Field Air Show Cancelled Amid Coronavirus Concerns

A biennial air show that typically draws hundreds of thousands of people to March Air Reserve Base will not be held as planned this month because of growing anxiety about the potential spread of novel coronavirus in Riverside County, base officials announced Wednesday.

Wednesday, 4:17 p.m.: Coronavirus: Benefit Goes From Theater To Livestream To Canceled

Organizers of the much-anticipated 2020 Chickens' Ball in San Carlos, the "Longest Running Show in the Peninsula," tried to adjust.

Wednesday, 3:45 p.m.: Coronavirus: San Francisco Public Schools Remain Open

Despite a Public Health Order, public schools will remain open.

Wednesday, 3:34 p.m.: Eisenhower Health Provides Details On Coronavirus Situation

According to the provider, as of Monday two people were hospitalized at Eisenhower Health with confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Wednesday, 3:12 p.m.: Blood Donations Still Needed As Coronavirus Spreads

People who have visited China, South Korea, Iran, and Italy within the past 28 days are urged to cancel blood donation appointments.

Wednesday, 1:47 p.m.: 2 On Genentech's South SF Campus Test For Coronavirus: Report

The two people who tested for the virus were on the campus on March 2. The company hasn't said whether they were employees.

Wednesday, 1:30 p.m.: Coachella Valley Water District Cancels Public Events: COVID-19

CVWD does not anticipate any disruption to water services in the Coachella Valley.

Wednesday, 1:04 p.m.: Thunderstorms, Coronavirus Force VillageFest Cancellation

The city of Palm Springs is awaiting guidelines from the Riverside County public health officer related to the cancellation of more events.

Wednesday, 12:42 p.m.: Coronavirus: Another Convention Canceled At Moscone Center

San Francisco has banned large gatherings in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Wednesday, 12:27 p.m.: Coronavirus: San Francisco Crowd Ban Hits Giants, Warriors

Giants cancel March 24 exhibition game vs. the Oakland A's, Warriors to play on Thursday night at Chase Center before empty arena.

Wednesday, 12:15 p.m.: Coronavirus: Holi Celebration 2020 Canceled In San Ramon

The festival was planned for Friday, March 27 at Bishop Ranch.

Wednesday, 11:55 a.m.: Coronavirus: UCR Suspends Classes; MSJC, MoVal, COD Stay Open

UC Riverside Chancellor Kim Wilcox announced that all in-person classes on campus will be suspended until at least April 3.

Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.: Alameda Firefighter Tests Positive For Coronavirus

The health department is checking to see what calls the firefighter went on recently, and who may have been exposed.

Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.: Coronavirus In San Diego: Cruise Passengers Arrive At Miramar

Passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship arrived Tuesday night at MCAS Miramar, and a second group is expected to arrive Wednesday.

Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.: Coronavirus: Grand Princess Passengers Continue To Leave Ship

The World Health Organization declared a global pandemic Wednesday, as cases locally continue to multiply.

Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.: Coronavirus: Dublin Postpones 'State Of City' Address & Luncheon

"It does not seem prudent to gather when local health officials are recommending that non-essential events are cancelled or postponed."

Wednesday, 10:15 a.m.: Santa Clara County Responds To TSA Agents Testing For Coronavirus

The TSA on Tuesday confirmed three agents tested positive for the coronavirus

Wednesday, 10 a.m.: Coronavirus: St. Patrick's Brew Crawl Canceled In Pleasanton

Health and safety concerns related to COVID-19 led to the Downtown Association's decision to scrap the Saturday event.

Wednesday, 10 a.m.: Pepperdine Suspends In-Person Classes Due To Coronavirus Concerns

Pepperdine University is suspending in-person classes for the rest of the semester to limit the potential spread of the new coronavirus, according to a message from university President Jim Gash.

Wednesday, 10 a.m.: Coronavirus: CSU-East Bay Cancels Classes

The threat of new coronavirus has prompted the cancellation of all in-person classes at CSU-East Bay through Friday, officials say. Classes will resume online on Monday. Workshop, lab and studio courses that are not possible to teach online, will continue to meet in person.

Wednesday, 1:48 a.m.: UCLA, USC Turn To Online Classes Over Coronavirus Concerns

UCLA will suspend all in-person classes "wherever possible" beginning Wednesday and continuing through April 10 in response to concerns about coronavirus, while USC will begin three days of online classes to test its "technical capabilities" in case it also scrubs in-person courses.

Wednesday, 1:17 a.m.: Santa Clara County Moves To Slow Coronavirus Spread

The county's count of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 45 on Tuesday.

Wednesday, 1:00 a.m.: San Mateo County Supes Ratify Two Coronavirus Emergencies

At least nine people in the county have been infected.

Tuesday, 4:57 p.m.: All Catholic Schools Closed In Bay Area

The Archdiocese of San Francisco is closing its schools in Marin County and elsewhere in the Bay Area after a student tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Tuesday, 5:16 p.m.: San Diego County Extends Emergency Declaration

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously voted to continue the recently declared local health emergency in response to the deadly coronavirus, and to form a subcommittee to handle related challenges.

Tuesday, 11:38 a.m.: BART Ridership Dips On Exposure Fears

Fear of spreading the novel coronavirus may have caused a dip in ridership for at least one Bay Area transit agency, according to data released Tuesday by BART.

Tuesday, 8:57 a.m.: 'Jeopardy!' And 'Wheel Of Fortune' Nix Audiences Over Coronavirus

Television game shows "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune,"which are both based in Culver City, will start taping shows without an audience this week due to fears over the new coronavirus, according to reports Tuesday.