COVID-19 Cluster Traced To Pasadena Birthday Party

According to the Pasadena Public Health Department, a cluster of Covid-19 cases was traced back to an attendee of a birthday party who was not wearing any face covering and who was coughing. According to PPHD, there are “more than five laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and many more ill individuals” among the attendees of the party. This is a good reminder that right now, the best way to celebrate is from home.

The birthday party took place sometime after the city issued its stay at home directive on March 19 and was attended by a large number of people, including extended family and friends. According to the Safer At Home Order issued by the city, private and public events with ten or more people are prohibited. Wearing a face covering and practicing social distancing, requiring people to remain more than six feet apart, is mandatory, and these conditions were not met at the birthday party. Several attendees were not wearing face coverings, and social distancing was not being practiced.

Contact tracing led health officials to identify the cluster of Covid-19 cases. According to the CDC, contact tracing is to identify and monitor the contacts of infected people. “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,” said Dr. Matthew Feaster, PPHD epidemiologist. “We’re grateful to our large team of public health nurses, case investigators, and contact tracers who help track the virus and prevent the disease from spreading to other members of our community.”

As of May 8, some lower non-essential businesses in the city of Pasadena were allowed to re-open with curbside pick up as long as social distancing and infectious control measures were in place. Employees must remain six feet apart and wear face coverings. Customers must wear face coverings and place their orders ahead of time by phone, utilizing curbside pickup once they arrive at the location. “Although we are moving forward with small modifications to the Safer at Home Order, gatherings of people who do not live in the same household are still prohibited,” as stated by  Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, director, and health officer of Pasadena Public Health Department.