Jennifer Rice Epstein, Public Affairs Specialist in the City Manager's office, tells LBREPORT.com in response to our inquiry thst [as Dr. Davis stated and LBREPORT.com reported March 9] the three preliminary COVID-19 cases in Long Beach involved two people who'd traveled on a Nile cruise and another who'd traveled to a location in northern CA that has community spread.

Last night (March 9), Long Beach Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis offered noticeably different advice regarding attendance at large gatherings by older people and those with underlying health issues than recommendations just a few hours earlier by L.A. County Health Officer Director Barbara Ferrer, PhD MPH, MEd.

Long Beach Health Officer Davis to the press briefing "[I]f you have underlying health conditions or are an older adult, consider avoiding large gatherings for the time being." The word "consider" was absent from L.A. County's recommendations.

L.A. County Health Dept Dir. Ferrer was more definite. She said: "Given that we have now have our first case of possible community transmission, we are recommending that people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women and people who are elderly should adopt some social distancing practices immediately and this would include avoiding non-essential travel, avoiding public gatherings or places where large groups of people are congregating and avoiding event venues. So again, I want to note that this is for people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women and those who are elderly. This guidance is issued because these three groups of people face the possibility of having more serious illness from COVID-19 should they become infected. Out of an abundance of caution we're suggesting social distancing measures be adopted immediately."

[Scroll down for further.]

Prior to publishing this story, LBREPORT.com sought an explanation from the City of Long Beach's joint information center (8:29 a.m.).

We'll add its response as received. [Response has been added above.]

Sponsor

Sponsor

Sponsor

Sponsor

Sponsor

Sponsor

Continuing coverage on LBREPORT.com.

Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.