Santa Barbara County launches Coronavirus information hotline, still no cases locally
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - Santa Barbara County Public Health launched an information hotline to answer questions the community may have about the Coronavirus.
The phone number is 805-681-4373.
Callers will reach a recorded message, and they have the option to listen in either English or Spanish.
The recorded message covers general information on the Coronavirus, including the current status of the outbreak, as well as symptoms to look out for.
"There are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Santa Barbara County," the message said Thursday.
The recorded message said the immediate health risk to the general public in California remains low, but that it was still considered a serious public health concern.
Santa Barbara County Public Health said it was working with the CDC, local health providers, and state health agencies to keep the community safe.
The message urged people to visit the CDC website if they were planning to travel out of the country soon.
The hotline also said people should call their doctor if they become sick with a fever, cough, shortness of breath and if they've been in contact with someone who was exposed to Coronavirus or who traveled somewhere with community spread.
The public health department was not recommending universal testing as of Thursday and said testing kits were still in limited supply.
Health experts say the best protection is to avoid contact with someone who is sick, wash hands often with soap and warm water, and to stay home if you get sick. The CDC does not recommend healthy people wear face masks.
For more information on the Coronavirus response locally, click here.
