Coronavirus Community Resources

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, First 5 San Diego is compiling alerts and resources to help partners, parents and San Diego County residents impacted by the crisis.

Letter to Families and Partners

For a letter from First 5 Executive Director Alethea Arguilez on COVID-19, click here.

Governor Newsom Executive Order

Governor Newsom Executive Order To Provide Expanded Access to Child Care for Essential Workers During COVID-19 Response, click here.

About COVID-19

Also known as Coronavirus — is a contagious virus that is part of a large family of coronaviruses that cause diseases of varying severities, ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases.

Scientists think the main way COVID-19 spreads is through close person-to-person contact, within 6 feet, with someone infected with the virus. The virus seems to be spreading easily in the community of affected areas.

Transmission of Coronavirus is spread through:

• Droplets produced through coughing and sneezing
• Close personal contact, such as caring for an infected person
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands

The symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to practice good hygiene with frequent hand washing and social distancing.

How To Protect Yourself

Practice everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It should be at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces often.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home and keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

Stay Home Except For Essential Needs

San Diego County public health officials have issued orders to prevent the spread of the new Coronavirus disease, or COVID-19.  A statewide order issued March 19 expands on parts of the local order.

• San Diego County public health order (PDF)
• California public health order (PDF)
• List of essential critical infrastructure workers (PDF)

Stay At Home Requirements

San Diegans are directed to stay in their residences and limit activity outside of their homes beyond what is absolutely necessary for essential tasks.

Many businesses — including malls, many shops, companies, and nonprofit organizations — must stop operations.

San Diegans are directed to stay in their residences and limit activity outside of their homes beyond what is absolutely necessary for essential tasks.

No public and private gatherings that would occur outside of a single home will be allowed.

A Guide to COVID-19 and Early Childhood Development

The global response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has changed daily life in many ways for many people. Yet child development has not paused, and supporting children, families, and care providers of all kinds is as important as ever. In this guide, the Center on the Developing Child has gathered a number of resources and recommendations to help you through this challenging time. This guide pulls together information on COVID-19, what it means for child development, and easy-to-share resources that can help parents and caregivers, as well as child care providers, pediatricians, and others who work with families.

Guide: What is COVID-19? And How Does It Relate to Child Development?

Download Book: The Germ Called Coronavirus; A Short Guide For Children

Additional resources can be found here.

COVID-19 Resources

The County of San Diego is working closely with our federal and state partners to monitor an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus, COVID-19. The COVID-19 outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation. Everyone is being encouraged to stay informed and take steps to prepare for a potential local outbreak in San Diego County.  Please review the resources below.  If you have questions please contact 2-1-1 San Diego by dialing 2-1-1 on your phone.

To find the latest information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Please review the resources below.