Safer-At-Home Order Could Be Reinstated

Los Angeles County could be on the verge of issuing another Safer-at-Home order if the five-day average of new cases reaches 4,000, according to health officials.

As of Tuesday, the five-day case average was 2,884. But on Wednesday, the county announced 3,944 new cases, mirroring numbers not seen since a midsummer surge that followed the Fourth of July holiday.

According to Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, the county on Nov. 1 was averaging about 1,100 new cases a day, but that figure increased to almost 2,000 one week later, and as of Wednesday, it had risen to almost 4,000 per day.

“I cannot stress enough how concerning this is,” Ferrer said. “We face one of the most dangerous moments in this pandemic, and the only effective path forward requires immediate action, and unfortunately, additional sacrifice. When the rate of increase is as high as it is right now, it can be harder to slow the spread. Heading into colder months and the flu season compounds the sense of urgency.”

It was not known if the order would also be reinstated at the state level. If it is, Pasadena would have no choice but to comply or introduce a stricter order.

Several Pasadena schools cleared to reopen for in-person learning for younger students could be forced to close.

Across the state, several counties have been moving backward into more restrictive levels of the state’s monitoring system. 

On Friday Pasadena will impose increased restrictions on businesses and social activity in an updated health order.

The second wave of COVD-19 infections is impacting states across the country. Chicago has already instituted a second Safer-At-Home order and schools in New York and Kentucky have been shut down again.

Meanwhile, leaders in states that previously scoffed at mask mandates, including governors in Republican states such as Iowa, North Dakota, and Montana, have reversed their positions.

“We are seeing some of the highest daily case numbers since the beginning of the pandemic. Immediate action by each of us will help slow the spread of the virus, as we were able to do before,” said Pasadena Health Department Director Dr. Ying-Ying Goh.

“Even in the face of pandemic fatigue, we can protect each other from COVID-19 infection, prevent additional illness and death, and help keep our healthcare delivery system from becoming overwhelmed. We need everyone to adhere to public health guidance so we can stop this new surge,” Goh said.

Forty new COVID-19 cases were reported in Pasadena on Wednesday. 

Huntington Hospital is currently treating 36 patients infected by the virus.  

“Good judgment in making personal decisions is critical, and I’m asking our community to stay home if you can, wear a mask whenever you leave home, avoid mixing with people you don’t live with, practice physical distancing and wash hands frequently,” Goh said.

“Rethink your travel plans and cancel out of state or out of country travel. The state travel advisory strongly recommends that persons arriving in California from other states or countries, including returning California residents, should practice self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival,” she said.