Pasadena Health Officer Orders Those With COVID-19 to Self-Isolate

Pasadena’s Public Health Officer today issued an order requiring Pasadenans diagnosed with or likely to have contracted COVID-19 to self-isolate.

The legal order mandates the self-isolation and dictates that violation of, or failure to comply, is a crime punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.

Dr. Ying-Ying Goh said the order was being issued to help slow COVID-19’s spread, protect vulnerable individuals, and prevent the healthcare system in the City of Pasadena from being overwhelmed.

“Everyone is at risk for becoming ill with COVID-19, but some people are more vulnerable to serious illness, including pneumonia and organ failure, or death, due to their age, physical state, and/or health status,” Dr. Goh said in her order. “Currently, there is no vaccine available to protect against COVID-19 and no specific treatment for its symptoms.”

Pasadena’s new order incorporates an earlier similar order by Los Angeles County made March 25.

In that order, the LA County Health Officer also directed self-isolation of anyone diagnosed with or showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 within 14 days of being in close contact with a person who had or was believed to have COVID-19.

These new Orders ensure that individuals who test positive for COVID-19, and those who are told by a clinician they are presumed to be positive for COVID-19 are required to self-isolate for a period of at least 3 days without symptoms, including being fever free without taking medicine, and 7 days since symptoms started, whichever is longer.

Additionally, those who have been in close contact with someone who is positive or presumed positive must quarantine themselves for 14 days from the last time they had contact with the ill person, the County’s Health Officer explained.

The County also said there are key differences between self-quarantine and self-isolation. Here’s what the new orders mean for you: