Pasadena Health Director Ying-Ying Goh declared a public health emergency for the city in response to the novel coronavirus, even though Pasadena doesn’t currently have any cases of the virus known as COVID-19.

“This declaration is part of an ongoing response and will empower the city to more effectively respond to COVID-19 and prepare for community spread of the virus,” she said at a Wednesday morning press conference held alongside officials from Los Angeles city and county who issued their own public health emergency.

Goh said the move would allow Pasadena to more easily coordinate with regional partners and get the resources needed to fight the spread of the disease. She is expected to provide a briefing to the City Council at its next meeting.

The city of Long Beach also declared a public health emergency on Wednesday, following San Francisco and Orange County, which both made similar declarations last week. San Francisco has no cases of the virus while Orange County has three. Both Long Beach and Pasadena run their own public health departments separate from the county’s.

With seven total cases across Los Angeles county — six of which were reported in the past 48 hours — Barbara Ferrer, director of Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said leaders should expect more in the days ahead.

“If you’re sick with anything, we need people to stay home,” Ferrer said.

Still, Ferrer said there was no indication the disease was spreading through the community. All of the new cases appear to be contracted by individuals who traveled to areas where the disease was more prevalent, or the patients had direct contact with travelers.

As governments worldwide grapple with the fast-moving virus, the World Health Organization pegged the coronavirus’ global mortality rate at 3.4% on Tuesday, significantly higher than the mortality rate of the seasonal flu, which is 0.1% according to a news release.

Officials announced California’s first coronavirus-related death on Wednesday — a Placer County patient who tested positive for the virus after returning from a cruise to Mexico.

The patient was among the first diagnosed in the state; it was the first death outside of Washington state where 10 people have died from the disease as of Wednesday afternoon.

Governments across the country have advised anyone who is sick to stay home. They recommend washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water isn’t available, they’ve suggested using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.