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The County of Tulare Public Health Branch confirms the 11th death from COVID-19 in the county. The individual passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2020. The individual was over 65 and the transmission type was unknown.

“We offer our sincere condolences to the friends and family who lost their loved one due to COVID-19,” said Dr. Karen Haught, Tulare County Public Health Officer.  “Social distancing is the most important tool community members can use to avoid getting or giving COVID-19.”

Tulare County residents must follow these guidelines:

• Stay at home
• Go out only for essential items such as groceries and medical needs/prescriptions
• Limit outings to no more than 2 individuals
• Wash your hands and disinfect surfaces frequently

The Public Health Branch asks community members to follow the governor’s stay-at-home order to “flatten the curve” and slow the spread of COVID-19. This, and social distancing when you must go out for essential services such as grocery shopping, is the best way to avoid COVID-19. Cloth or other face masks and coverings may help to reduce COVID-19 transmission by asymptomatic people or those who may not be showing symptoms yet. However, even with the addition of a face mask, community members need to remain six feet or more away from others when out for essential services.

The above guidance serves to help protect yourself from COVID-19 in addition to good health hygiene, such as washing hands, covering coughs/sneezes, remaining home when ill, avoiding other sick people, and frequently washing surfaces with regular home cleaners.

The Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency is diligent about the protection of patient privacy, in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and for this reason we cannot release any other information about the patient. The information we release about the positive COVID-19 cases in Tulare County is carefully curated to provide useful information to our community members, while also excluding information that would lead to the identification of patients. This is a protection, provided by law, that is extended to everyone.

Updates continue to be available on our website: www.tchhsa.org.