City of Pasadena Provides Chronology of Attention to Long-Term Care Facilities

[Updated] City officials released a report on Thursday with a high-level snapshot of the timeline of key events surrounding the onset of COVID-19 infection in Pasadena.

The report, prepared by an outside consultant, includes a chronology of the Pasadena Public Health Department’s actions to prepare for, respond and mitigate the threat of COVID-19 in the city’s long-term care facilities.

“Dr. Goh and her team have been working day and night to take measures to protect lives in these facilities,” said City Manager Steve Mermell. “Despite major obstacles, the health department has and will continue to take the necessary actions to mitigate the spread of the virus, knowing this will be a sustained response. The City will continue to evaluate our progress and build upon lessons learned at a local level and from our county, state and federal partners.”

Vice Mayor Tyron Hampton and District 5 Councilman Victor Gordo have called for a review of the health department’s response to the outbreak in the city’s long term health care facilities.

As of Friday morning, 79 Pasadena residents have died from complications caused by the virus which has infected 790 local residents, resulting in death rate of 10 percent.

Most of the fatalities have occurred in the city’s long term health care facilities.

The city has been particularly hard hit among elderly residents because of its numbers.

There are 16 skilled nursing facilities in Pasadena, with 886 beds per 100,000 residents, as compared to 383 facilities in Los Angeles County with 382 beds per 100,000 residents. This means there are 2.3 times more beds per 100,000 residents in Pasadena than LA County.

As in Pasadena, the Coronavirus has had tragic effects on the vulnerable populations of long-term care facilities nationwide. According to a New York Times’ database, at least 28,000 residents and workers have died from COVID-19 at nursing homes and other long-term facilities for older adults in the United States.

So far, the virus has infected more than 153,000 at some 7,700 facilities.

“Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to those who have lost family members due to this tragic pandemic,” said Pasadena Public Health Director Dr. Ying-Ying Goh. “COVID-19 infection and death rates in these facilities is a national tragedy. Mitigating risks of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in these facilities will require a national strategy and investment in infectious disease infrastructure and personnel. There needs to be discussions at a national level on how these facilities are funded, staffed and regulated. This is not simply a Pasadena problem; it is a significant nationwide issue.”

Concurrently, the Office of the City Attorney has released a related memorandum entitled “Summary of the Health Officer’s Authority Relating to Skilled Nursing Facilities” to help clarify roles and authority.

View the consultant’s letter to the city manager.

View the consultant’s chronology.

View the city attorney’s memorandum.

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