Pasadena Retains Masking Orders in Healthcare and Direct Care Facilities

PASADENA – ColoradoBoulevard.net:

Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) reminds the community that health care workers (HCW) in Pasadena must be up to date with COVID-19 vaccination and must wear masks in healthcare and direct care settings as required by Pasadena Health Officer Orders.

By News Desk

Pasadena has observed evidence of a surge in local COVID-19 cases. Over the last month, there has been a 35% increase in weekly cases. We know this is an underestimate of cases because of the widespread adoption of at-home antigen tests, which do not require reporting to the public health department. Additionally, the COVID-19 test positivity rate in Los Angeles County increased from 5.5% to 7.6% this week. A spike from previously stable rates this year.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus poses a particular risk to the health of medically vulnerable residents in health care and long-term care facilities which establishes a need for more protective measures within health care settings. Pasadena has higher per capita population residing in long-term care settings compared to the rest of Los Angeles County. The number of hospitalized COVID-19 confirmed patients in Los Angeles County increased over the last couple weeks of July after decreasing in June and the first part of July. As a lagging indicator, this recent increase suggests we could be heading to a more worrisome surge in the upcoming weeks.

“Protecting the health of those at greatest risk for severe illness remains a priority in Pasadena,” said Acting Public Health Director Manuel Carmona. “Vaccination and masking requirements effectively reduce infection rates and protect at-risk individuals from COVID-19-related complications.”

PPHD encourages all Pasadena residents to stay up to date on vaccines and boosters, test for COVID-19 after traveling, stay home when sick, and seek available COVID-19 treatments. PPHD continues to offer free COVID-19 bivalent vaccines on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 am – 11:30 am and 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm. The bivalent vaccine is effective in decreasing the spread of COVID-19, preventing severe illness, and reducing hospitalizations and deaths. Walk-ins are welcome or schedule an appointment at MyTurn.ca.gov.

Stay connected to the City of Pasadena! Visit us online at www.cityofpasadena.net; follow us on Twitter at @PasadenaGov, and Instagram and Facebook at @CityOfPasadena; or call the Citizen Service Center Monday through Friday during business hours at (626) 744-7311.