Council Members Say They Did Not Know About Local Residents in Self-Quarantine

A majority of City Councilmembers told Pasadena Now they did not know that the Public Health Department was told by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to place 50 people in self- quarantine since Feb. 3.

The head of that department, Dr. Ying Ying Goh, was scheduled to update the Council on the city’s preparedness on Monday.

“I am somewhat surprised,” said Councilman John Kennedy, who chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee. “I would expect as the chair of the Public Safety Committee that someone would have the presence of mind, whether it’s the City Manager or the director of our Public Health Department, to notify me so that I could at least from a policy perspective provide some input.”

Kennedy said he received disaster training when he served as deputy chief of police for administrative services in Richmond, Virginia.

On Sunday, Public Health Director Goh told Pasadena Now many of the people who self-quarantined have completed the 14 day self-isolation period and have not reported illness.

Goh did not say how many names were sent by the CDC or how many people were asked to self-quarantine, or how many people the city is currently monitoring under self-quarantine.

Pasadena Now has requested those numbers.

“I was not aware of it,” said District 7 Councilman Andy Wilson. Wilson called for the update that was presented to the council on Monday.

The virus has killed more than 3,500 people, and 109,000 cases of the virus have been reported around the world, forced school closures and the cancellation of events.

Caltech has canceled at least 10 events, and officials at the Rose Bowl and the Convention Center are disinfecting the venues several times a day.

Officials at City Hall are no longer shaking hands and instead are bumping elbows.

The Pasadena Unified School District is developing a virtual way to teach students if officials are forced to close schools.

State officials released new guidelines for schools on Saturday.

There are now 16 cases in Los Angeles County. On Monday, officials announced the first case of community spread in Los Angeles County, where officials cannot trace the incident back to a known source of the virus.

“I have confidence that Huntington Memorial Hospital and our Public Health Department have been working together to ensure we are as prepared as possible to face whatever comes,” said District 2 Councilwoman Margaret McAustin.

Gene Masuda said he was not told about the self-quarantine, but added things have been moving quickly.

“They’re really trying to move fast on this and trying to stay ahead of it,” said Masuda. “And that’s why tonight we’re going to be having a resolution declaring the coronavirus health emergency. That’s the reason why we’re doing it.”

Mayor Terry Tornek said he expected the self-quarantines to be discussed at tonight’s City Council meeting.

“I’m sure we’ll discuss it with Dr. Goh tonight,” said Mayor Terry Tornek. “She’s going to make a presentation. Huntington Hospital is going to make a presentation. I’m sure this subject will be covered.”

When asked if he knew about the locals that were asked to self-quarantine, Tornek said. “I don’t know about that.”