Welcome to the OC Health Care Agency's (HCA) press release webpage, which includes copies of our most recent releases as well as an archive of those issued by this department since 2004.
Official press releases are distributed by our Communications team, part of the Health Policy, Research & Communications unit, within HCA. To contact us, call (714) 834-2178 or email HCAComm@ochca.com.
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April 02, 2021
County of Orange public health officials continue to encourage residents to get tested for COVID-19 to help slow the spread of the virus until vaccines become more widely available.
March 15, 2021
The OC Health Care Agency’s Environmental Health division has closed the bay water area from Bayside Drive Beach to China Cove due to a sewage spill.
February 25, 2021
Based on updated guidance for youth and recreational adult sports issued February 19, 2021 by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), outdoor sports competitions may resume in Orange County (OC) with modifications starting Friday, February 26th.
February 1, 2021
The State of California’s Emergency Services Authority (EMSA), in partnership with the County of Orange’s Orange County (OC) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team, has established an Oxygen Depot at the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in the City of Irvine.
January 28, 2021
The County of Orange will launch an Emergency Rental Assistance program on February 1, 2021 and will accept applications for a period of one month from eligible renter households with unpaid rent or utilities bills due to the impact of COVID-19.
January 12, 2021
Individuals without appointments, even if they are within an eligible group, are urged not to come to the Disneyland Resort Super POD vaccination site without an appointment.
January 12, 2021
County Health Officer Dr. Clayton Chau today announced that all Orange County (OC) residents ages 65 and older are now eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
December 31, 2020
Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced that California has opted in to the federal COVID-19 Pharmacy Partnership. At no cost to the state or local government, CVS and Walgreens will administer the Pfizer vaccine to residents and staff in long-term care facilities.
December 29, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is pleased to announce that recruitment is now open for one seat on the CalOptima Board of Directors.
December 18, 2020
County Health Officer Dr. Clayton Chau issued two Health Officer’s Orders this week:
1) New Health Order to Help Prevent Spread of COVID-19 in Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly: As of December 16, 2020, all residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFEs) must cancel all communal dining and indoor communal activities within 24 hours of when a resident and/or employee is diagnosed with COVID-19.
December 16, 2020
COVID-19 is increasing at alarming rates in California and Dr. Clayton Chau, County Health Officer and Director of the OC Health Care Agency (HCA), urges community members to do their part to slow the spread of this virus in Orange County (OC).
December 15, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency will deploy mobile field hospitals (MFHs) to local hospitals this week to support the Orange County (OC) health care system as it responds to a surge in COVID-19 patients. OC hospitals may receive emergency waivers from the California Department of Public Health to request the use of the MFH facilities.
December 08, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has launched phase 2 of its at-home, saliva-based COVID-19 testing program with Ambry Genetics for all Orange County residents.
December 08, 2020
County of Orange health officials were notified by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on December 1, 2020 that the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) should make preparations to receive 25,350 doses of Pfizer-manufactured COVID-19 vaccine on December 15, 2020.
December 02, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is launching a student-driven, app-based platform – bplucky – that will offer teens a diverse collection of features with creative outlets and access to mental health resources.
November 28, 2020
World AIDS Day is December 1. In recognition of World AIDS Day and the 2020 campaign theme, “Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact,” the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) recognizes the key role that our local communities have in the AIDS response.
November 24, 2020
New ad campaign urges residents to think about family members this holiday season. With Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other seasonal holidays upon us, the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is reminding Orange County residents to avoid usual large family gatherings this year in order to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their neighbors from the spread of COVID-19.
November 23, 2020
Holidays usually mean gathering with friends and extended family, attending parties, hosting dinners, traveling, and celebrating time-honored customs. But some holiday activities promote congregating and mixing of households, which increase the risk of transmitting COVID-19.
November 5, 2020
Marketing, Advertising and Outreach Planned to Help Orange County Residents. Recognizing the stresses that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is having on OC residents, the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is launching three new mental health awareness campaigns in the coming weeks – the first is aimed at reducing the stigma in support of wellness and recovery and the other two are focused on suicide prevention.
October 22, 2020
With many teachers, parents and students struggling with changing school re-opening models, the OC Health Care Agency is offering a fun, creative contest for Orange County students to enter with the chance to win needed technology supplies for their schools.
October 19, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) encourages community members to drop-off expired, unused or unwanted prescription medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on “National Take Back Day” Saturday, October 24 at numerous locations throughout Orange County.
October 13, 2020
October 15 marks National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), which helps promote testing and early diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
September 25, 2020
A bat found along a brick wall in between 1500 and 1600 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road in the City of Orange, on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at around 4 p.m., has tested positive for rabies.
September 17, 2020
With flu season now upon us, the OC Health Care Agency is already anticipating the potentially devastating effects of a double whammy of influenza and COVID-19 cases hitting in the fall and winter months and urges everyone to get a flu shot.
September 16, 2020
The first human death associated with West Nile virus (WNV) infection in Orange County has been confirmed this week by OC Health Care Agency officials. The case is an elderly male resident of Garden Grove who died with WNV infection complications.
September 3, 2020
The National Weather Service is forecasting elevated temperatures for Orange County over the next few days, increasing the risk of heat related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke for those who are more sensitive to heat.
September 1, 2020
A new blueprint for business sector re-opening was unveiled by Governor Newsom on August 28, 2020, which includes a color-coded, tiered system that will use two metrics to measure the novel coronavirus: spread rate and test positivity percentage.
August 20, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is launching a new public service campaign designed to save lives by spreading positive vibes – not COVID-19 throughout the community.
August 19, 2020
OC Health Care Agency (HCA) officials have recently confirmed Orange County, California’s first pediatric death related to COVID-19 - a female in her teens with significant underlying medical conditions.
August 17, 2020
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning, increasing the risk of heat related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke for those who are more sensitive to heat.
August 13, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) today announced a new advertising and community outreach campaign encouraging Orange County residents impacted by COVID-19 to care for their mental health by reaching out and seeking support. Specifically, the campaign directs residents to free County of Orange resources available to the community including those listed on www.ocgov.com/covid and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Warmline (877-910-9276) for immediate mental health support.
August 10, 2020
A child under the age of 18 years was diagnosed last week with West Nile Virus (WNV) infection, and was hospitalized but is recovering. This is the first human WNV infection identified in Orange County this season.
July 30, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) today announced a new advertising and community outreach campaign to encourage Orange County residents to be vigilant in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19 by protecting themselves and others.
July 24, 2020
A bat found on the entrance of the AT&T store at 131 E. Katella Ave. Suite #20 in the City of Anaheim on Sunday, July 19, 2020 at around 11:15 a.m. has tested positive for rabies.
July 1, 2020
Effective immediately by order of the State, the following sectors will be closed in Orange County: Indoor Dine-in Restaurants, Indoor Wineries and Tasting Rooms, Indoor Family Entertainment Centers, Indoor Movie Theaters, Indoor Zoos and Museums, Indoor Cardrooms, Indoor and Outdoor Bars.
June 22, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency’s Environmental Health Division has closed all of the Huntington Harbour bay water area in the City of Huntington Beach due to a sewage spill caused by a cracked force main. The affected bay water area will remain closed to ocean water-contact sports until the results of follow-up water quality monitoring meet acceptable standards.
June 18, 2020
Posing the question, “Could it be COVID?” The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) this week launches a multifaceted community outreach and advertising initiative aimed at the county’s most vulnerable populations – people who can’t get COVID-19 testing from their health care providers or may not have insurance.
June 12, 2020
On Friday, June 12, 2020, Dr. Clayton Chau, Acting County Health Officer, will approve the re-opening of certain additional industries in Orange County, California, following his review of local epidemiological data including cases per 100,000 population, rate of test positivity, and local preparedness to support a health care surge, vulnerable populations, and contact tracing and testing.
June 11, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Environmental Health Division has closed the ocean water from Sleepy Hollow Lane to Cleo Street in the City of Laguna Beach to swimming, surfing, and diving due to a raw sewage spill.
May 28, 2020
In light of recently-issued industry guidance by the California Department of Public Health and Cal-OSHA regarding places of worship and hair salons, the County Health Officer today issued amended Health Officer's Orders and strong recommendations to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County as more businesses move toward re-opening. They revise and supersede the May 23, 2020 Orders and recommendations.
May 23, 2020
The County Health Officer today issued a new Health Officer’s Order and additional strong recommendations to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County as more businesses move toward re-opening.
May 15, 2020
Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent announcement to add more than 80 community-testing sites focused on underserved communities across the state, the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has partnered with the California Department of Public Health to launch four new testing sites in the cities of Buena Park, Orange, Santa Ana and San Juan Capistrano.
April 21, 2020
Effective at 12 a.m. on Friday, April 24, 2020, all employees of any grocery store, pharmacy/drug store, convenience store, gas station, restaurant, food preparation establishment, or retail store in Orange County who may have contact with the public must wear a cloth face covering while at work.
April 21, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is pleased to announce the launch of the OC COVID-19 Testing Network, which offers COVID-19 testing starting Tuesday, April 21, 2020 to Orange County residents who meet the criteria detailed below.
April 2, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is pleased to announce the selection of Jason Austin, MA, LMFT as the new Director of the Office of Care Coordination (OCC).
March 3, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Public Health Laboratory today confirmed two presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, a man in his 60s and a female in her 30s with recent travel to countries with widespread transmission.
February 28, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has issued the 2020 Award of Excellence to 3,463 Orange County food facilities to recognize local businesses for their outstanding food safety and sanitation practices during 2019.
February 22, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) today issued a statement of support for the City of Costa Mesa’s legal action, taken yesterday, to temporarily halt a plan by state and federal agencies to use the Fairview Developmental Center as a location to quarantine individuals from the Diamond Princess cruise ship who have tested positive for COVID-19 (novel coronavirus).
February 03, 2020
If you get prescribed opioids, you may end up wishing you hadn’t. Opioid misuse and addiction can affect anyone; fortunately, there are other ways to help manage pain. That’s the message behind a new County of Orange campaign that launches this week.
January 25, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Communicable Disease Control Division received confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this evening that an Orange County, California case has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
January 21, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is pleased to announce that recruitment is now open for the CalOptima Board of Directors. A County-organized health system, CalOptima serves more than 750,000 low-income children, adults, seniors and persons with disabilities. CalOptima was formed in 1995 in response to a healthcare system that was struggling to meet the needs of vulnerable Orange County residents. Today, CalOptima has grown to be the single largest health insurer in Orange County, and has stayed true to its mission of providing members with access to quality health care services.
January 13, 2020
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has confirmed Orange County's first influenza-related death this season in a person under 65 years of age. An adult male resident of Tustin who had underlying health conditions died of complications related to influenza B infection.
January 02, 2020
On behalf of the Orange County Health Improvement Partnership (HIP), the OC Health Care Agency announces the availability of the 2020-22 Orange County Health Improvement Plan for public review and comment at www.ochealthiertogether.org through January 20, 2020. The plan lays out assessments, goals, objectives and strategies for six priority areas over the next three years.
