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Covid-19 Health Update 

Long Beach Covid-19 Update 3.17.20

LBLN

By the Numbers (Long Beach only):

  • 8 positive results
  • Of the 3 new cases, 2 traveled to locations of known transmission and 1 case origin is still under investigation
  • Approximately 110 persons currently being monitored

***Please note that private labs also are now testing people. Those labs are only required to report positive results; therefore we are unable to accurately quantify the number pending or negative results.***

Today’s Highlights:

  • Effective today and continuing through March 31, 2020, or until further notice, city businesses are required to modify their operations, in accordance with a mandate issued by the Health and Human Services Department:
  • All bars, nightclubs, breweries and wineries, as well as gyms and other fitness facilities and large entertainment venues are to close.
  • Restaurants and other food-serving establishments are limited to delivery and takeout only.
  • Mass gatherings of more than 50 people that take place in a confined or enclosed space are prohibited.
  • Effective today through Friday, March 20, street sweeping parking citations have been suspended. All other parking enforcement will continue as usual.
  • The City urges people to remain calm. Please follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for guidance for our residents.
  • City residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for Alert Long Beach to receive emergency notifications to their mobile phone and/or email address.
  • The Joint Information Center remains open during normal business hours: 562.570.NEWS (6397), jic@longbeach.gov. 
  • The Incident Management Team remains fully operational. 

This Week’s Highlights:

  • The City of Long Beach facilities and operations are operating under temporarily modified conditions. Details about City modified operations are available here. 
  • The City has issued guidance for local restaurants and bars in light of state guidance issued on March 15.
  • Long Beach Police Department has increased patrol resources and will continue to monitor key resource locations to ensure public safety. LBPD also provided health and safety recommendations to area grocery stores.
  • Long Beach is working to protect people experiencing homelessness during this public health emergency.
  • This respiratory disease outbreak has no impact on the quality or supply of Long Beach’s tap water and should not disrupt water or sewer service to Long Beach Water’s customers. Details here. 
  • Utilities including Southern California Edison, Energy Resources and the Long Beach Water Dept. are temporarily suspending shutoffs. 
  • The City of Long Beach established an information hotline for businesses, workers and employers in Long Beach. That number is operated during normal business hours at 562.570.4BIZ (4249).

What you need to know NOW:

  • The City urges people to practice social distancing, including avoiding crowds of people and keeping at least six feet of distance from others.
  • Residents of Long Beach should continue to practice preventive measures such as frequent hand washing, disinfecting high-touch surfaces regularly, staying home when sick, not touching one’s face with unwashed hands and covering one’s coughs and sneezes. 
  • The City encourages everyone to put together a family action plan, including choosing a room in one’s house that can be used to separate sick household members from others; ensuring access to prescription and nonprescription medication, food and other essentials; and creating an emergency contact list of family, friends, neighbors, delivery services and other community resources. 
  • Reach out to elderly family members and neighbors to ensure they have what they need. More information about preparedness can be found at www.ready.gov.
  • The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Health Department Operations Center is activated at a Level I, and is conducting an extensive contact investigation, following up with individuals who may have been exposed as a result of the presumptive positive cases.
  • The City of Long Beach continues to monitor the situation 24/7 in coordination with local, state and federal officials.

COVID Testing Glossary:

  • Positive – Number of people who have received a positive test result. As of 3/16/20, the CDC announced that they will no longer require confirmatory testing on positive tests conducted by outside labs. 
  • Negative – Number of people who have received a negative test result.
  • Monitored – The DHHS is closely monitoring individuals who may have been exposed. 

A Note About Quarantine and Isolation: 

Quarantine is used by public health professionals to separate potentially exposed individuals from the public in the case that they become symptomatic and thus contagious to others. Being in quarantine is not an indication that a person has or is likely to have COVID-19. Quarantined people are asked to limit their contact with others for 14 days, and may be excluded from work or school. Quarantined people should notify their provider immediately if they begin experiencing symptoms. Should they begin exhibiting symptoms, they may be required to isolate.

Isolation means separating a person that is sick in order to prevent them spreading the virus to others. People may be asked to self-isolate at home while they are being tested, while they recover, or they may be isolated in a healthcare setting if they need medical support to recover.