The results of the suspected case of COVID-19 that the Del Norte County Public Health and Human Services announced last week have come back and are negative.There was no evidence of coronavirus according to a press release Sunday from the health department. It was the first known presumptive case in Del Norte County.The individual presented themselves to a local healthcare facility last week. Del Norte Public Health worked with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to coordinate sample delivery to one of the approved state laboratories. Testing was conducted by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Contact tracing is currently underway and exposed contacts are being quarantined at home and monitored for symptoms.Details about the patient will not be made public to protect patient privacy.State of EmergencyAs part of the state’s response to address the global COVID-19 outbreak, Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a State of Emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19. The proclamation comes as the number of positive California cases rises and following one official COVID-19 death.The proclamation builds on work already underway by the California Department of Public Health, California Health and Human Services Agency, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and other agencies which have been on the front lines of the state’s response to COVID-19 since January.“The State of California is deploying every level of government to help identify cases and slow the spread of this coronavirus,” said Governor Newsom. “This emergency proclamation will help the state further prepare our communities and our health care system in the event it spreads more broadly.”The emergency proclamation includes provisions that protect consumers against price gouging, allow for health care workers to come from out of state to assist at health care facilities, and give health care facilities the flexibility to plan and adapt to accommodate incoming patients.Preventive stepsLocal authorities remind the public to follow these simple steps to reduce or prevent the spread of any respiratory illness, including COVID-19:• Washing hands with liquid soap and water, and rubbing for at least 20 seconds, or using analcohol-based sanitizer of at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not immediately available;• Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing orsneezing;• Staying home if you are sick;• Regularly cleaning surfaces touched by many people; and• Practicing social distancing measures, such as reducing your interaction with large groups orcrowds.Symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to severe and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Older residents and individuals with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19.If you have questions or concerns, call Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Branch during business hours at 707-464-0861or after hours at 707-464-3191. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });