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What would it Take to Reopen Pasadena?

Local residents entering second month in homes under Safer at Home orders.

Published on Thursday, April 16, 2020 | 9:05 am
 

As governors across the country begin making plans that will allow states to reopen, Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek talked about what needs to happen before orders mandating people stay home are lifted.

Meanwhile business owners said things will not get back to “normal” quickly.

Pasadena health officials issued a Safer at Home order on March 19 that mandates all Pasadena residents self-quarantine unless they need to conduct essential business, which includes shopping, exercise and doctor’s appointments.

The state issued an identical order shortly after Pasadena’s.

“It’s not surprising that many people are growing impatient and asking when all of this will end the answer is that we really don’t know,” said Mayor Tornek in a video update earlier this week. “These onerous regulations must stay in place until the rate of new infections are drastically reduced or there are some proven medical treatments.”

On Wednesday, Pasadena Public Information Officer announced that 184 local residents have tested positive for the coronavirus and there have been two additional fatalities, bringing the death toll to 14.

Those numbers will be updated later today.

Tornek said the regulations are slowing the spread of the virus but the impact on lives has been awful.

“Closing schools businesses and playgrounds and asking everyone to stay at home has created economic hardship

and disrupted our lives terribly.”

Tornek’s video came hours after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced indicators that will be used to lift the order.

“There’s no light switch here. It’s more like a dimmer,” Newsom said. “That dimmer is this toggling back and forth between more restrictive and less restrictive measures. More individual accountability, more individual responsibility as it relates to face coverings, as it relates to practicing physical distancing. More individual responsibility if you’ve been exposed to the virus that we isolate you.”

According to Newsom his decision making will be guided by the ability to monitor and protect communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed; the ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19; the ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges; the ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand; the ability for businesses, schools, and child care facilities to support physical distancing; and the ability to determine when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary.

Pasadena Chamber of Commerce President Paul Little said even after local businesses start up again things could be different.

“It’s not going to be reopened and all of a sudden, the party starts again.” said Paul Little. “It’s going to be a very different sort of an operation for everybody, especially those that interact with the public in relatively large numbers, and nobody really knows what that’s going to be.”

Local tax preparer Ismael Trone said things will be forever changed even after businesses reopen.

“Nothing’s going to be the same anymore because we have learned how to survive.” Trone said. “The businesses that have survived now have a different formula, and that is going to be important.”

Local residents have now been under quarantine orders for nearly one month. As of Thursday morning, health officials in California reported 821 deaths, but more than 15 percent of those deaths were reported this week.

California was the first in the nation to issue shelter in place orders. On Monday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said large gathering events, including professional sporting events may not return until 2021.

“I think we all have never wanted science to work so quickly,” Garcetti said. “But until there’s either a vaccine, some sort of pharmaceutical intervention, or herd immunity, the science is the science. And public health officials have made it very clear we have miles and miles to walk before we can be back in those environments.”

Pasadena has its own health department and has issued its own orders regarding the virus. So far those orders have been in line with orders issued by the state and Los Angeles County.

If Pasadena followed suit UCLA games and even the Rose Parade, which bring huge revenue to the city could be threatened.

“Believe me we all want to return to normal as soon as it’s safe until then please continue to stay at home and maintain your distance when you have to go out and wear masks when you go shopping,” Tornek said.

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