LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County health officials confirmed one new case of coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases across the county to 17.

Since Monday three new cases have been announced. The latest case was from a traveler who had returned from Iran at the Los Angeles International Airport and tested positive. One of the other cases was a person who had a travel history to Japan. The third new case had no known history of exposure, making it potentially LA County's first case of community spread.

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"Today we're announcing two new cases. These are two people who've tested positive for novel coronavirus. One of our new cases is a person with a known travel history to Japan," said Los Angeles Department of Health Director, Dr. Barbara Ferrer. "Our other case, we cannot at this point identify a known exposure history. So we possibly have our first case of community transmission."

The Department of Public Health is working to identify persons who may have been in close personal contact with the latest confirmed cases, including family members, friends, and health care professionals. Such individuals will be monitored for signs and symptoms of the illness. 

All confirmed cases are being isolated and close contacts will be quarantined. There are no known public exposure locations related to the new cases at this time.

“This is our first case of community transmission in LA County and we will continue to see more cases of COVID- 19,” said Ferrer. “We continue to urge everyone to do their part: stay home if you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick; plan for the possibility of school and business closures, and be sure to follow any additional directives issued by Public Health and/or local officials. By working together, we can slow the transmission of novel coronavirus."

Of the 16 cases that have been confirmed in L.A. County, one person has fully recovered. The other 15 are being isolated or quarantined. 

The Department of Public Health has so far tested over 60 people for coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

The Center for Disease Control has issued new guidelines as of this week recommending against traveling on cruise ships and advising anyone returning from Mainland China, Iran, Italy, or South Korea to self-quarantine themselves for 14 days. 

Foreign nationals from Japan and Mainland China, as well as foreign nationals who've recently traveled to those countries will be barred from entering the United States. 

COVID-19 has been officially declared a pandemic, the World Health Organization announced Wednesday.

For the latest updates go to: coronavirus.gov