WeHo Asks Residents To Take Steps To Prevent Coronavirus

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA — The Westside cities of Malibu, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Santa Monica and West Hollywood released a joint statement Wednesday that they are asking residents to to take steps to prevent the new coronavirus, and they are following the lead of Los Angeles County and its Department of Public Health.

The Westside cities are "at-the-ready for local action" if the county or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend it, the joint news release said. The five Westside cities regularly collaborate on public safety matters and disaster response, large-scale regional public events and emergency preparedness.

Four more Los Angeles County residents have contracted the Coronavirus, public health officials confirmed Thursday. The county went from no cases to 11 in less than three days, but each case has been easily traced to travel abroad rather than a local community transmission.

Los Angeles County and the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Pasadena declared a Level Three local emergency Wednesday. This Level Three local emergency enables local agencies with their own public health departments to "transition into full preparedness mode and makes them eligible for state and federal funding for any increase in COVID-19 cases and possible community spread," the news release said.

Under the LA County Public Health emergency declaration and from a regional emergency management perspective, all five Westside cities fall under this public health declaration.

"Together, and within our local jurisdictions, the Westside cities of Beverly Hills, Culver City, Malibu, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood undergo emergency management training and meet regularly in preparation for a range of emergency scenarios," the news release said. "Each city, in standard preparation for any emergency or disaster, has robust plans in place for continuity of government services and business operations."

The five Westside cities are urging their residents to do the following:

• Avoid / Stay away from sick people;
• Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand cleaner;
• Keep hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth;
• Disinfect public counters, desks, common areas, phones, keyboards, etc.;
• Use disinfectant wipes identified for use against Influenza A&B and Coronaviruses;
• If you have symptoms (fever, cough, vomiting, difficulty breathing) stay home and call your doctor;
• Remain home until you have spoken with your doctor or health provider and are cleared to return to work; and
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.

The Westside cities will continue to follow the lead of county and federal health agencies in implementing protocols for public spaces and in relaying information to the community, the news release said.

For updates and information about the current numbers of cases in nationwide and in Los Angeles County, the spread of the virus, severity, treatments, precautions, and other important public health information in multiple languages, visit the Los Angeles County Public Health website and the CDC website.

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Related: 4 More Coronavirus Cases Reported In Los Angeles