Pasadena Ponders a Future Which Might Include Coronavirus Cases

To date, no cases of the highly contagious and potentially deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have turned up in Pasadena. But what if? And what then?

Specific answers to those questions are still evolving, even as Mayor Terry Tornek told Pasadena Now earlier this week, “I think we’re pretty confident that there are probably cases, if not in Pasadena, at least in the San Gabriel Valley. … It would be surprising if we don’t get any cases, frankly.’’

“We think we are prepared,’’ Tornek said. “We know that the (city) Health Department is in active discussions with the county and others. This is not something that we’re nonchalant-ing, but it’s also not something to get completely freaked out about.’’

Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, the city’s director of public health, declared a state of emergency on Wednesday in what was described as largely a precautionary move, to bring the city into line with a similar declaration by the county.

The city’s declaration is largely a procedural, bureaucratic move aimed at making certain resources and money available to the city more quickly, should a COVID-19 case be reported here.

In an interview with Pasadena Now, Goh stressed that her Wednesday declaration of emergency was not a sign that there was any immediately heightened health risk in the city.

Rather, she said, “declaring a public health emergency or a local health emergency or a local emergency is a procedural step. It doesn’t indicate immediate increased risk to the public. Rather, it allows our government to expedite some processes to make it easier to request mutual aid.’’

Goh and representatives of Huntington Hospital are scheduled to make an informational presentation at the City Council meeting on Monday night at which they “will provide an update on the coronavirus situation and reinforce preventive measures to keep our community safe,” said city spokesperson Lisa Derderian.

Derderian said that Goh’s office has been “working with our health-care partners and other stakeholders in the community like schools, businesses, specials-events venues and senior-care facilities.”

City first-responders have also been getting daily updates on taking more personal precautions and using protective equipment when needed, Derderian said.

Derderian also said the city has also been in contact with fitness centers, which have been reminded to wipe down common areas, including weights and treadmills.

And city officials have also spoken to officials at the Pasadena Senior Center, where classes are held throughout the week, she said.

By Sunday afternoon, there were 14 known coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County. They break down like this:

• 8 cases involve a group of travelers who visited northern Italy.

• 2 Los Angeles International Airport workers.

• 2 from close contact with a coronavirus patient.

• 1 is a patient who lived in Wuhan, China.

• 1 patient from a conference in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Barbara Ferrer, head of the county health department, stressed that all of the county’s cases have been traced to an exposure source, so there are no local incidents of unknown community spread of the illness.

She said she understands that the increasing number of cases will spark greater concern among residents and raise questions about what they can do to protect themselves.

“We are going to reiterate our main messages, which is for the general public, your risk still remains low, although this is the time to start making sure you’re practicing what we call good public health hygiene,” Ferrer said.

“The primary message for everyone is to stay home when they’re sick. The primary message for everyone, children and adults, is even with mild illness to please not circulate in the public, particularly don’t go to schools and don’t go into work.”

Ferrer said the county has been working to contact employers to stress that message — and asking that they institute flexible, non-punitive policies that allow employees to stay home if they feel ill.

That’s a policy that’s already being followed, big-time, in Seattle, where numerous COVID-19 cases, and eight deaths in the state, have been reported. Such a policy could also be a preview of further steps that cities like Los Angeles and Pasadena could be taking, should the crisis expand in this area.

One national brand with corporate offices in Seattle sent a memo to its employees in that city earlier last week detailing “recommended behaviors to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.’’ The memo stressed “social distancing” as the most effective way to prevent spread of the virus.

Among the precautions that company is taking is requiring employees who can work from home or telecommute to do so; sending home workers who the meet the criteria for ‘high risk’ (defined by King County as those 60 years of age or older, people with an underlying health condition, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems); eliminating large in-person meetings; and not allowing outside guests or vendors into the office.

Things have not reached that level in Pasadena or in the wide L.A. area, but businesses are still taking precautions.

“We do have cleaning staff on site every day,” said Meredith Thomas, director of communications for the Rose Bowl. “We’ve actually upped our cleaning within the facility to every two hours. That’s something that was implemented this past Monday.”

Jeanne Goldschmidt, executive director of the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau, said, “We are communicating with our clients to keep them informed of the latest news as it relates to their upcoming events in Pasadena. We are also working closely with our meeting planners to evaluate their events on a case-by-case basis. Right now there are no federal restrictions on meetings, events and travel in the United States.”

Meanwhile, Goh’s message to Pasadenans as the COVID-19 crisis moves forward is, “What we’re hoping is that people who have symptoms of coronavirus will call their doctors and talk to their doctors about any risk factors that they might have that might have caused them to be exposed to coronavirus, and their doctors will evaluate them and get them the right health care that they need.”

“If somebody had some risk factors, was having respiratory symptoms and needed emergency or hospital care they would get directed in a safe fashion to the emergency room,’’ she said.