Feverish Pasadena Police Employee Who Triggered Self-Isolation for Police, Interim Fire Chiefs Tests Negative for COVID-19

Ten top city officials, including the police chief, interim fire chief, police commanders and the city spokeswoman have been cleared to return to duty Thursday after a fellow employee who recently came down with a fever tested negative for COVID-19, authorities said.

The city employees took to self-isolation Tuesday after a police command staff member they had been in close proximity to on Monday developed a fever, according to Pasadena police Lt. Pete Hettema.

An initial COVID-19 test returned a negative result, but the self-isolation continued until a second, more reliable test could be completed.

The exposure risk was considered low, as all involved staff had been wearing masks and practicing social distancing while working together, city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said. But the isolation was deemed a necessary precaution.

With Thursday’s negative test result, all affected employees, including Police Chief John Perez and Interim Fire Chief Bryan Frieders, received the all-clear to return work as usual, Perez said.