AIRPORTS AND ENFORCING

QUARANTINE.

HE ANNOUNCED VICE PRESIDENT MIKE

PENCE NOW IN CHARGE OF THE U.S.

RESPONSE.

THE WHITE HOUSE ASKING FOR JUST

OVER TWO AND A HALF BILLION

DOLLARS TO FIGHT THE VIRUS BUT

LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE

AISLE ARE CALLING FOR MORE THAN

THAT.

JEFF: WITH THE VIRUS SPREADING,

PARENTS AND TEACHERS ARE

ESPECIALLY WORRIED ABOUT HOW

THEY ARE GOING TO PROTECT THEIR

CHILDREN.

SARAH IS LIVE IN PASADENA WITH

MORE ON WHAT FAMILIES CAN DO TO

STAY SAFE.

REPORTER: THE NEWS FROM THE CDC

THAT AMERICANS SHOULD BE

PREPARED FOR AT LEAST THE

POTENTIAL OF THE VIRUS SPREADING

HERE IN THE UNITED STATES IS

SOMETHING PARENTS OF INFANTS AND

SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN HAVE TO

THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT.

WE SPOKE WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS

ABOUT WHAT FAMILIES IN

PARTICULAR NEED TO KNOW.

FIRST OF ALL, I'D SAY YOUR

CHILDREN ARE SAFE.

REPORTER: FOR PARENTS, THE MERE

MENTION OF CORONAVIRUS CAN BE

DISTRESSING FOR EDUCATORS AND

DOCTORS WANT TO STRESS

PREPAREDNESS OVER PANIC.

WE ARE GETTING BRIEFED ON A

REGULAR BASIS.

IF WE DO GET INFORMATION FOR ANY

REASON UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN TO

COME TO SCHOOL, WE WILL REACH

OUT TO PARENTS.

REPORTER: SHE OVERSEES THE 80

SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN L.A.

COUNTY.

ALTHOUGH SOME PARENTS

CONCERNS, SHE WANTS THEM TO GET

THE MESSAGE THAT COUNTY SCHOOLS

ARE STAYING FOR JUDGMENT.

WE ARE PLANNING BECAUSE IT'S

IMPORTANT THAT SHOULD THERE BE

AN INCREASE IN CASES, WE WANT TO

MAKE SURE WE ARE PREPARED.

IF THERE WERE A SITUATION WHERE

WE NEEDED TO CLOSE DOWN HIGH

SCHOOL, WE'D BE ABLE TO PROVIDE

ONLINE INSTRUCTION, HOMESTUDY OR

OTHERWISE FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN.

CORPORATE PEDIATRICIANS HAVE

FIELDED CALLS FOR CONCERN

PARENTS TO BUT FOR NOW, CHILDREN

HERE IN THE U.S. ARE AT VERY LOW

RISK.

THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR TO

BECOME BIGGER BUT AT THIS TIME,

NO REASON TO PANIC ABOUT

CORONAVIRUS.

REPORTER: HIS ADVICE, PRACTICE

GOOD HYGIENE LIKE HANDWASHING.

VERY YOUNG CHILDREN AND BABIES

CAN LIMIT THEIR EXPOSURE TO THE

PUBLIC BUT FOR NOW, FAMILIES CAN

KEEP UP THEIR ROUTINES.

IS LIKE ANY OTHER DAY.

KEEP YOUR CHILDREN AS HEALTHY AS

POSSIBLE, MAKE SURE THEY GET

NORMAL REST.

IF THERE'S NO REASON, WE

CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO ADD ANY

UNNECESSARY STRESS OR ANXIETY ON

CHILDREN.

REPORTER: AS WITH ANY EMERGENCY

LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE FOR EXAMPLE,

EXPERTS SUGGEST YOU KEEP VITAL

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AT YOUR HOME.

IF YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN OR

BABIES, YOU MAY WANT TO THINK

ABOUT WHAT THEY MIGHT NEED IF

YOU WERE TO STAY INSIDE FOR AN

EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

EXPERTS SAY, BE PREPARED TO BE