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View Winners → Pasadena Declares Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 Response
News Mar 04, 2020
Steps people take to avoid getting sick with the colr or flu can also prevent Coronavirus. – Courtesy Photo / David Stewart (CC 2.0)
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On March 4, City of Pasadena PublicHealth Officer Dr. Ying-Ying Goh declared a local public health emergency toempower the city to more effectively respond to the novel coronavirus disease,COVID-19. This declaration coincides with actions taken by Los Angeles Countyand Long Beach Health Department. Currently,there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pasadena.
The declaration of a Local Public Health Emergency will mobilize city resources, accelerate emergency planning, streamline staffing, coordinate agencies across the city, facilitate seeking and utilizing mutual aid and allow for future reimbursement by the state and federal governments. Additionally, an official declaration will help raise awareness about how everyone can prepare in the event that COVID-19 appears in our community. This declaration does not signify an immediate increase in risk to the residents of Pasadena.
“The City of Pasadena has beenpreparing to address cases of COVID-19 and taking action to prevent spread,”said Goh. “The Pasadena Public Health Department has been proactively workingin coordination with partner jurisdictions and state and federal agencies toprovide guidance to health care providers, schools and businesses, and deliverkey public health functions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.”
Steps that individuals can take toreduce the risk of getting sick with seasonal colds or flu can also help toprevent COVID-19 if it begins to circulate in the community:
• Wash hands with soapand water for at least 20 seconds; if soap and water are not available, use analcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover your cough orsneeze.
• Stay home if you aresick.
• Get your flu shot toprotect against influenza.
• If you have recentlyreturned from a country with ongoing COVID-19infections, follow public health guidance and monitor your health. Call yourhealthcare providers and inform them about your travel history if you needcare.
You can also prepare for possibledisruptions to daily routines that could be caused by COVID-19:
• Make sure you have asupply of all essential medications for your family.
• Make a child care planin case you or a care giver are sick.
• Understand youremployer’s policies regarding leave and options for working from home.
• Make arrangements forhow your family will manage a school closure.
• Make a plan for howyou 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 councilmeeting. For the latest information on the coronavirus, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus.
