On March 17, the Kern County Public Health Department announced that the first confirmed case of coronavirus had hit Kern County. They reported that the person infected is not a Kern County resident but an out of town visitor.

Local hospitals have been preparing for the pandemic but are still in need of some medical supplies such as N95 masks, goggles, aprons, surgical masks and gowns.

Local hospitals are also taking action to help prevent the spread of the virus by setting up tents outside of main emergency room entrances to screen for potential COVID-19 cases.

With the low amount of supplies in local hospitals, some locations are not testing nearly the number of people as they should be.

Local hospitals like Adventist Health Bakersfield, Tehachapi and Delano are changing their visitor policies.

“As of 8 A.M on March 17 and until further notice, NO visitors will be allowed on any Adventist Health hospital units or skilled nursing facilities with the exception of OB, Pediatric, and hospice which will be limited to only ONE visitor. Patients will be encouraged to use Facetime, Skype, Whatsapp or their preferred telephone or video chat application,” according to the Adventist Health coronavirus preparedness page.