But in response to an inquiry by LBREPORT.com, LBPD and LBFD statements (provided by the City's Joint Information Center and published in full below) indicate that may not be happening -- at least not yet -- in all situations in which LB police officers and firefighters may encounter others. However both statements also indicate changes are currently underway or developing in both departments...and LBREPORT.com's interpretation of the statements below is that LB residents may begin seeing greater numbers of Long Beach police and firefighters wearing facial coverings in the coming days.

LBREPORT.com publishes the LBPD and LBFD statements in full below.

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Protecting the health and wellbeing of our employees and our community is the highest priority for the Long Beach Police Department. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Police Department is working in close collaboration with our Health Department and Fire Department to ensure that police officers remain able to respond to emergency situations and calls for service to assist the community.

Long Beach Health Officials are ensuring that the City is operating in compliance with the latest CDC guidelines, and state and local health orders. The City and the Department provide continuous updates via email, video, and in-person communication with information related to the COVID-19 response efforts.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

To protect both the officers and community members, on March 11, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including N95 masks, disposable gloves, and eye protection, was provided to Police Department employees who serve in public facing and/or field assignments where close physical contact may be required.

Employees may utilize this safety equipment when:

• They are in contact with individuals who are presenting flu-like symptoms or who have tested positive for COVID-19, or are likely to have COVID-19.
• Their duties prevent them from maintaining the 6-foot physical distancing requirement recommended by health officials.
• Any other situation where the PPE is needed to protect the employee from exposure to chemicals, blood, narcotics, or other harmful substances.

If any of the personal protective equipment is compromised by exposure, the employee must notify their supervisor so that the items may be replaced.

Over the course of the past several weeks, we have had discussions with the Health Department and Human Resources regarding the feasibility of issuing additional N95 masks to officers, while continuing to follow the latest medical guidance and scientific information. Based on these discussions, we began the process of issuing additional N95 masks to officers/employees in public-facing positions where physical contact is likely.

In response to the latest Health Order, the City began facilitating the distribution of bandanas and cloth face coverings to all city employees to be used where N95 masks are not needed, but as an additional level of precaution when they are unable to maintain social distancing with the public and each other. Cloth face coverings will be issued to Police Department employees beginning this weekend, in compliance with the Health Order that was issued on Friday, April 10, 2020.

MODIFICATIONS TO PATROL RESPONSE

Additionally, proactive measures have been put into place to minimize the risk of exposure for both the officers and the community. Hand sanitizer has been supplied in every patrol vehicle and hand washing stations have been placed at the entrances to police facilities and at all City-owned fueling stations. Public Safety Dispatchers are asking screening questions on incoming calls to determine if there is an increased risk of COVID-19 exposure. The Department has changed its response profile to allow more interactions on the phone and to limit contact where not necessary to serve the public. Please see the news release issued on 3/28/20 regarding Modifications to Patrol Response: http://longbeach.gov/press-releases/long-beach-police-department-operational-changes-in-response-to-covid-19/

For the latest regarding the City’s response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, please visit:?longbeach.gov/COVID19.

LBFD PIO Firefighter Jack Heflin, part of the City's All Hazards Incident Management Team in the Joint Information Center, precedes the statement below by noting: "Additional guidance with the new health order is currently under review from fire department command staff and may be forthcoming in the near future. However, as of today (April 12) this is the current policy with regard to our response in the community.

Response Plan: Contact Only

Fire Department resources that are responding to calls for service with a "Patient Positive Screen for Potential Respiratory Infection" indicated should:

• If indicated in the call history, PPE precautions should be taken.
• Notify the hospital of potential COVID-19 patient.
• Properly Dispose of PPE.
• Decontaminate equipment.
• Change uniforms immediately and wash separately in hot water and detergent.

Response Plan: Exposure

Fire Department resources that are responding to calls for service with and exposure to a suspected COVID-19 patient should:

• Immediately take PPE precautions to minimize the exposure.
• Notify the hospital of potential COVID-19 patient.
• Properly Dispose of PPE.
• Contact Dispatch and Immediate Supervisor.
• Decontaminate equipment.
• Change uniforms immediately and wash separately in hot water and detergent.
• Follow the Communicable Disease Notifications Protocol per Departmental policies.

On April 11, Chelsey Finegan with the All Hazards Incident Management Team in the City's Joint Information Center told LBREPORT.com that 16 LB Freighters had to that date tested positive for COVID-19; five are LB residents and all five of them have returned to work.

On March 27, LBPD reported one West Division police officer had tested positive for COVID-19; this hasn't chanted and the City isn't tracking a quarantined count, Ms. Finegan indicated.

Efforts by LBREPORT.com to obtain comments on current City practices from the presidents of the unions (by law "associations") representing LB police officers (LBPOA) and LB firefighters (LBFFA Local 372) were unsuccessful.

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