Mayor Urges Pasadenans to Wear Masks as City Reports 13 New COVID-19 Infections

Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek implored residents to wear masks on Wednesday as health officials reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 in the city and county officials announced colleges will not be able to resume in-person classes this fall.

But city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian cautioned that the case count was “almost assuredly” low due to ongoing problems with the statewide electronic lab reporting system. No new deaths were reported.

State officials said the data issue has been resolved, but the process of working through the backlog is ongoing. Meanwhile, Pasadena Public Health Department officials have been working to get better data directly from health care providers, according to Derderian.

The city had seen a total of 2,146 reported novel coronavirus infections and 111 fatalities as of Wednesday.

Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek issued a video statement Wednesday urging Pasadenans to make use of the only weapons we have against COVID-19.

While restrictions on businesses and other activities have changed over time during the pandemic, “one thing has been pretty consistent,” Tornek said. “We know that until we have drugs that work, all we really have to fight the spread of the infections are social distancing, cloth face coverings, and good sanitation.”

“The fact that wearing a cloth face covering has become controversial is really quite astonishing. I know a lot of people don’t like them, but the rules are simple and clear: You must wear them to slow the spread of the disease.”

Officials have previously said the city was hoping to not have to issue citations to bring about compliance, but the possibility remains on the table.

“We don’t want to fine people or occupy our police officers’ time with an enforcement burden, but you must really wear your face covering whenever you go out,” the mayor said. “Remember, we’re all in this together, and this is a simple and tangible way that each of us can do our part.”

Huntington Hospital was treating 33 COVID-19 patients on Wednesday. Twenty-eight tests were pending.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that schools and universities in the campus will not be able to resume in-person classes in the fall semester.

“Colleges and universities in Los Angeles County may continue their essential operations, but most academic instruction must continue to be done via distance-learning,” county health officials said in a written statement.

“Institutions may continue to offer in-person training and instruction only for students who are or will become part of the essential workforce and only for required activities that cannot be accomplished through virtual learning. All other academic instruction must continue to be done via distance-learning,” according to the statement. “Faculty and other staff may come to campus for the purpose of providing distance learning, and other activities related to the purposes above, as well as maintaining minimum basic operations.”

Institutions were urged to “limit their on-campus student residency to only providing housing for students who have no alternative housing options,” the statement said. “Collegiate sports may only proceed in compliance with all the California Department of Public Health Specific Interim Guidance for Collegiate Athletics.”

County health officials announced 2,428 new infections and 58 new deaths.

“The number of new cases reported today includes about 700 backlog cases from the state,” county health officials said in a written statement. “We anticipate receiving additional backlog cases later this week.” Death and hospitalization rates were not affected by the problem, officials said.

Seventy-one percent of Wednesday’s new cases involved people under 50 years old, health officials said.

The county has reported a total of 214,197 novel coronavirus infections and 5,109 deaths since the onset of the pandemic in March.

Officials reported 1,538 L.A. County residents were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Wednesday, with 32 percent of them being treated in intensive care units.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have suffered the loss of someone they love to COVID-19. As the number of deaths continue to rise, we join with others across the county to offer our heartfelt condolences,” said L.A. County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer.

“I know that our decision to delay fully reopening colleges and universities is disheartening news for our students who were looking forward to life on campus. But this postponement means that we will continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and get to the point where we can return to campus when rates of community transmission are lower,” Ferrer said.

“Colleges and universities are an important driver of innovation, cultural vibrancy, and economic activity in the county,” she said.” At the same time, the very nature of the way that colleges and universities operate creates a significant risk of outbreaks of COVID-19 among students, faculty and staff. And these risks extend beyond campus into the broader community. That is why we have made the difficult, but necessary decision to limit the reopening of these important institutions.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced 11,645 new infections and 180 additional deaths in the state. But he added that 5,433 of the cases were newly detected, while the other 6, 212 were the result of the state catching up on its recent data backlog.

In all, California had seen 586,056 cases of COVID-19 and 10,648 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Officials said 5,442 patients were hospitalized with the virus statewide, with 1,699 of them — or 31 percent — in intensive care units.

As of Wednesday, L.A. County accounted for 37 percent of California’s COVID-19 infections and 48 percent of the state’s fatalities.