Pasadena City Health Officer Declares Public Health Emergency Over Coronavirus

Although there are no known cases of the deadly novel coronavirus in Pasadena at this time, City officials declared a State of Emergency on Wednesday as new cases are being reported in Los Angeles County.

“As the city of Pasadena Health Officer, I will be declaring, later this morning, a Public Health Emergency for the City of Pasadena,” said Pasadena Health Director Ying Ying Goh at a press conference Wednesday morning.

“There are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pasadena,” Goh said. “This declaration is part of an ongoing response, and will empower the city to more effectively respond to COVID-19 and prepare for community spread of the virus, maintain coordination with our partners, including the Los Angeles County and Long Beach Health Departments, seek and utilize mutual aid, potentially obtain reimbursement, and ensure that the City’s health professionals and other local stakeholders have all the necessary tools at their disposal.

“We are working in partnership with city staff across departments, local healthcare providers, and county, state and federal agencies, daily. We have confidence in our community’s medical system of care, and in our partnership with our healthcare providers.”

According to reports, there are now at least seven cases of the virus in Southern California, as six new cases of the disease were revealed in the county in the last 48 hours.

Since 1892, the Pasadena Public Health Department has worked to protect and improve the health of the Pasadena community.

The city of Pasadena is one of only three cities in the state of California that maintains its own independent local health jurisdiction. In addition to providing the full range of essential public health services, the Health Department also serves as the Health Strategy Catalyst for achieving our vision of everyone thriving in communities designed for health and well-being.

Earlier this morning, Los Angeles County declared an emergency as six new cases were reported.

 

The City also released a list of  steps that individuals can take to reduce the risk of getting sick with seasonal colds or flu can also help to prevent COVID-19 if it begins to circulate in the community:

•       Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;

•       Cover your cough or sneeze;

•       Stay home if you are sick;

•       Get your flu shot to protect against influenza; and

•       If you have recently returned from a country with ongoing COVID-19 infections, follow public health guidance and monitor your health. Call your healthcare providers and inform them about your travel history if you need care.

 

You can also prepare for possible disruptions to daily routines that could be caused by COVID-19:

•       Make sure you have a supply of all essential medications for your family;

•       Make a child care plan in case you or a care giver are sick;

•       Understand your employer’s policies regarding leave and options for working from home;

•       Make arrangements for how your family will manage a school closure; and

•       Make a plan for how you can care for a sick family member without getting sick yourself.

Dr. Goh will provide a full update on local response to COVID-19 at the March 9 Council meeting. For the latest information on the coronavirus, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htm