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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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.
December 27, 2019
The Orange County Armory Emergency Shelter Program in Santa Ana and Fullerton will operate on a 24-hour basis with coordination and support from the California Military Department from Monday, December 30th at 6:30 a.m. to Tuesday, December 31st at 6:30 a.m. to provide shelter and protection to residents experiencing homelessness during the predicted rain.
December 24, 2019
The Orange County Armory Emergency Shelter Program in Santa Ana and Fullerton will operate on a 24-hour basis with coordination and support from the California Military Department from Wednesday, December 25th at 6:30 a.m. to Friday, December 27th at 6:30 a.m. to provide shelter and protection to residents experiencing homelessness during the predicted rain.
December 03, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) today released the “Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Orange County, CA” report, available online at www.ochealthinfo.com/about/admin/pubs/opioid.
December 02, 2019
The Orange County Armory Emergency Shelter Program in Santa Ana and Fullerton will operate on a 24-hour basis with coordination and support from the California Military Department from Wednesday, December 4th at 6:30 a.m. to Thursday, December 5th at 6:30 a.m. to provide shelter and protection to residents experiencing homelessness during the predicted rain.
November 29, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Environmental Health Division has received confirmation from the City of Laguna Beach that necessary repairs have been made to the broken force main at Ben Brown Golf Course and the raw sewage leak that began November 27, 2019 was contained as of 12:15 p.m. today.
November 28, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Environmental Health Division yesterday closed the ocean and bay water areas from Pelican Point at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach to the Poche Beach interface in Dana Point/San Clemente due to a raw sewage spill.
November 27, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Environmental Health Division has closed the ocean and bay water areas from Pelican Point at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach to the Poche Beach interface in Dana Point/San Clemente due to a raw sewage spill of approximately 4 million gallons.
November 27, 2019
The Environmental Health Division of the OC Health Care Agency advises swimmers that levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, close to storm drains, and the outlets of creeks and rivers during and after rainstorms.
November 26, 2019
The Orange County Armory Emergency Shelter Program in Santa Ana and Fullerton is operating on a 24-hour basis with coordination and support from the California Military Department, today through Friday morning to provide shelter and protection to residents experiencing homelessness during the current and predicted rain.
November 1, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) today released the "2014 – 2018 Suicide Deaths in Orange County, California" report, available online at www.ochealthinfo.com/suicidereport, which analyzes data sourced from the State of California’s Department of Public Health Death Statistical Master File and Vital Records Business Intelligence System.
October 25, 2019
A bat found on the grounds of Mission San Juan Capistrano at 26801 Ortega Highway, in the City of San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at around 12:15 pm has tested positive for rabies.
October 22, 2019
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 26 at numerous locations throughout Orange County.
October 11, 2019
October 15 marks National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), which helps promote testing and early diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
October 10, 2019
A bat found alive near the entrance of Kohl’s department store at 12345 Seal Beach Blvd. in the City of Seal Beach on Sunday, October 6, 2019 at around 8 p.m. has tested positive for rabies.
October 8, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has confirmed our county’s first case of influenza A in a Cypress man, signaling that flu season is officially here.
October 8, 2019
The Orange County Board of Supervisors today issued a resolution recognizing the official launch of StigmaFreeOC.com in partnership with the OC Health Care Agency and the OC Mental Health Board.
September 26, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency’s Environmental Health division has closed the bay water area at North Star Beach due to a sewage spill. The spill of approximately 750 gallons was caused by a sewer main blockage in the City of Newport Beach.
September 26, 2019
A bat found alive in a parking lot located at 1250 N. Red Gum St. in the City of Anaheim on Wednesday, September 21, 2019 around 8:30 p.m. has tested positive for rabies. Four rabid bats have been identified in Orange County in the last two weeks; this is the third within the City of Anaheim. While this recent increase is unusual, rabid bats are identified routinely each year in Orange County and around the country. Contact with bats should be avoided and any potential bat bite should be discussed with a medical provider.
September 25, 2019
A bat found at the north entrance of a commercial building located at 4332 E. La Palma Ave. in the City of Anaheim on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at around 4 p.m. has tested positive for rabies.
September 21, 2019
A bat found inside the bike rental shop at Irvine Regional Park at 1 Irvine Park Rd., Orange, CA 92869 on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at around 1:30 p.m. has tested positive for rabies.
September 18, 2019
A bat found at the east entrance of a commercial building located at 1188 N. Euclid St. in the City of Anaheim on Friday, September 13, 2019 at approximately 3:45 p.m. has tested positive for rabies.
August 30, 2019
The County of Orange Health Care Agency's (HCA) Environmental Health division has lifted the harbor water area closure encompassing Anaheim Bay, Sunset Aquatic Marina, Portofino Cove, Anderson Street Marina, Mother's Beach, and Admiralty Drive in the City of Huntington Beach. There are currently no water quality warnings or advisories in Huntington Harbor. Laboratory analysis of water samples collected yesterday confirms that the water meets acceptable standards.
August 29, 2019
The County of Orange Health Care Agency's Environmental Health division has closed the harbor water area encompassing Anaheim Bay, Sunset Aquatic Marina, Portofino Cove, Anderson Street Marina, Mother's Beach, and Admiralty Drive in the City of Huntington Beach due to a sewage spill. The spill of approximately 60,000 gallons was caused by a sewer main blockage in the City of Stanton.
August 23, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has confirmed that a female teenager traveling internationally from New Zealand to Southern California (Orange County and Los Angeles County) from August 11 through August 15, 2019 was infectious with the measles.
August 19, 2019
A Tustin woman in her 50s was diagnosed this week with West Nile Virus (WNV) fever. She is the first human WNV infection identified in Orange County this season.
July 02, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has been approved for up to $18 million over three years from the State Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) to fund the Behavioral Health System Transformation Innovation (INN) Project.
June 25, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency's (HCA) 2017 and 2018 Ocean, Harbor & Bay Water Quality Report is now available online and provides an analysis of bacteriological water quality data over a 19-year period for Orange County's ocean recreational waters.
June 24, 2019
June 27 marks National HIV Testing Day, which promotes testing and early diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. This year's theme, Doing It My Way, is a call to action that encourages people to get tested for HIV in a way that is best for them. At the end of 2018, there were 6,369 individuals living with HIV in Orange County and by estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) an additional 893 residents have HIV and don't know it – some of whom will develop AIDS before realizing they are HIV-infected.
May 20, 2019
In celebration of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, May 19-25, 2019, the OC Health Care Agency recognizes Orange County's EMS (OCEMS) System and its network of first responders (fire, ambulance, marine safety and law enforcement), dispatchers, hospital personnel and medical professionals for their dedication and commitment in providing day-to-day life saving services to the community.
May 04, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has confirmed the second case of measles in 2019, an infant under the age of 1 who is too young to have been vaccinated and is currently hospitalized. This case has no history of international travel. The infant was seen at the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) emergency department while infectious.
April 30, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has confirmed the first case of measles in 2019, a resident of Placentia in her 20s who reported recent international travel to one of many countries currently experiencing widespread measles activity. The individual is considered infectious between April 23 and May 1, 2019 and is currently under voluntary isolation at home.
April 18, 2019
OC Health Care Agency (HCA) officials have recently confirmed a pertussis-related death in an infant. The case is the first pertussis-related death reported in Orange County, California since 2007. "We are deeply saddened by this loss of life and send our condolences to the family," said Dr. Nichole Quick, Interim County Health Officer.
April 17, 2019
A bat found at the north entrance of a commercial building located at 1021 N. Tustin Ave. in the City of Anaheim on Friday, April 12, 2019 at approximately 5:30 p.m. has tested positive for rabies.
April 12, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency encourages community members to drop-off expired, unused or unwanted prescription medications between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on "National Take Back Day," Saturday, April 27 at numerous locations throughout Orange County.
February 23, 2019
Information provided by the Regional Water Quality Control Board – Santa Ana Region (SARWQCB) indicates that several chemicals have been detected in subsurface and indoor air samples at 1000 E. Katella Avenue in the City of Anaheim.
February 21, 2019
The National Weather Service has issued a Frost Advisory for Inland Orange County beginning at 10 p.m. this evening to 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. Overnight temperatures in some areas will dip to the low 30s.
February 14, 2019
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has issued the 2019 Award of Excellence to 3,239 Orange County food facilities to recognize local businesses for their outstanding food safety and sanitation practices during 2018.
February 06, 2019
The National Weather Service has issued a Frost Advisory for Orange County coastal and inland areas beginning at 10 p.m. this evening to 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.
January 31, 2019
The Environmental Health Division of the Health Care Agency advises swimmers that levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, close to storm drains, and the outlets of creeks and rivers during and after rainstorms.
January 17, 2019
The County of Orange Health Care Agency (HCA) has confirmed Orange County's first influenza-related death in a person under 65 years of age this season.
January 09, 2019
The County of Orange Health Care Agency's Environmental Health division has closed the ocean water area in the City of Laguna Beach 250 feet upcoast and 250 feet downcoast from the projection of Upland Road due to a sewage spill.
January 04, 2019
The County of Orange 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.
