Cluster of Pasadena COVID-19 Cases Traced to a Birthday Party

Birthday cake (Photo – needpix.com)

Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) recently identified a cluster of COVID-19 cases among attendees of a birthday party.

By News Desk

Through contact tracing, the PPHD disease investigation team discovered more than five laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and many more party attendees who became ill.

Dr. Matthew Feaster, PPHD Epidemiologist, said:

This is an example of how good contact tracing can identify disease clusters and tell us more about the spread of disease in our community. We are grateful to our large team of public health nurses, case investigators and contact tracers to ensure COVID-19 is not able to spread further among those exposed to the disease.

Contact tracing is the process of identifying individuals who may have come into contact with an infected person and collecting information about these contacts.

COVID-19 spread among party attendees

The party was attended by a large extended family and their friends after the Safer at Home Health Officer Order was issued. The index case, or the first patient in the outbreak identified with the disease, was coughing and not wearing a face covering at the party. Guests were also not wearing face coverings or practicing social distancing, and as a result, COVID-19 spread among party attendees.

Mother’s Day

As Mother’s Day approaches, the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) reminds the public that the best way to celebrate is by staying healthy, and helping our loved ones stay healthy too.

Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, Director and Health Officer of PPHD, said:

Pasadena residents who are staying safer at home keep themselves and their loved ones protected from COVID-19. Although we are moving forward with small modifications to the Safer at Home Order, gatherings with people outside of one’s immediate household are still prohibited. The virus remains highly contagious and social distancing, frequent hand washing and wearing face coverings remain our best defenses against the further spread of disease in our community.

It’s recommended that those with underlying medical conditions and those ages 65 years and over do not participate in public recreation or retail curbside pick-up activities, and continue to be safer at home.

Experiencing symptoms?

Pasadena residents experiencing symptoms, even mild symptoms, are encouraged to get tested for COVID-19. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded known coronavirus symptoms to include fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell, cough, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.  Free, high-quality testing is now available at the Rose Bowl and at ChapCare’s Kathryn Barger Health. (Appointments required. Register here).

Source: City of Pasadena