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March 14: Long Beach Reports First COVID-19 Case Of "Community Spread" (No Identified Source), Closes Multiple City Buildings/Facilities, Implements Significant Changes In How It Deals With Public Now And TFN.


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(March 15, 2020, 1:30 a.m.) -- On March 14, LBREPORT.com flashed the stories below as breaking on our Facebook platform as well as our front page.

The day began with long lines visible at multiple LB stores -- major outlets like Walmart and Target as well as some neighborhood grocery stores -- for shoppers stocking up on food and other supplies (not just toilet paper ).

At midmorning, LB Pride announced it is "postponing" its May 2020-scheduled LB Pride Festival & Parde (the second largest event in the City, second only to the Grand Prix.) It didn't indicate a future scheduled date (for now.)

At midafternoon came an ominous but not unexpected development: the City of Long Beach reported the first LB case of "community spread" of COVID-19. or more precisely, the first case with no currently identified infection source.

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The City of Long Beach is reporting a new case of COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus, in an adult woman who did not have known exposure to an individual with the virus or travel to an area of community transmission. The woman, who is in her 60s, is hospitalized and in stable condition. This case marks the fifth identified case of COVID-19.

The newly-identified case may indicate community spread, which is when an illness spreads from an unknown source. Community spread can indicate that people are more likely to be exposed to the virus; however, it does not concretely define an increase in cases. Details regarding the individual’s exposure location and date are actively being investigated by the Health Department.

"This case highlights the need for continued vigilance and preparation, especially for those at higher risk of severe illness and those with underlying health conditions," said City Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis.

Residents of Long Beach should continue to practice preventive measures such as frequent hand washing, disinfecting high-touch surfaces regularly, staying home when sick, not touching one’s face with unwashed hands and covering one’s coughs and sneezes. The City urges people to practice social distancing, including avoiding crowds of people and keeping at least six feet of distance from others.

"We want all residents to know that the City is taking strong and proactive measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Long Beach," said Mayor Robert Garcia. "It’s important to prepare, check in on family and friends, and show compassion towards neighbors."

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A few hours later at early evening, the City announced the closure of multiple city buildings and facilities and implemented significant changes affecting how it deals with the public for now and TFN.

City Hall & Port Administration Building

City Hall and the Port Administration Building will be closed to the public through March 31, or until further notice. Essential City services will continue, but in-person services at City Hall will be suspended through March 31, or until further notice. City Hall will transition to online services; residents and businesses are encouraged to use online public services. In addition to online services, the City will accommodate the lack of in-person services by heavily staffing phone lines.

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Parks

The following Parks buildings will be closed to the public through March 31, or until further notice:

  • Parks, Recreation and Marine Administration Office
  • Sports Office
  • Community Recreation Centers
  • Leeway Sailing Center
  • Community Pools
  • Belmont Pool
  • El Dorado Nature Center Museum

All recreation programs, classes, permits and reservations are canceled through March 31, or until further notice. All youth and adult sporting activities are suspended through March 31, or until further notice.

Long Beach Senior Centers will remain open with limited services to ensure we support our most vulnerable community only with appropriate social distancing.

  • Long Beach Senior Center (1150 E. 4th St.) will remain open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for cafe and lunch service only. Senior lunches also will be served at the following sites from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with appropriate social distancing:
  • Cesar Chavez Park (401 Golden Ave.)
  • El Dorado Park West (2800 N. Studebaker Rd.)
  • Expo Center (4321 Atlantic Ave.)
  • McBride Park (1500 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.)
  • Ramona Park (3301 E. 65th St.)
  • Silverado Park (1545 W. 31st St.)

    City Parks, skate parks and dog parks, El Dorado East Regional Park, Nature Center trails and golf courses will remain accessible to the public and their maintenance and upkeep will continue. Marina offices will remain open.

    Public beaches will remain accessible to the public; however, all planned public events have been canceled through March 31, or until further notice.

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    Animal Care Services

    Long Beach Animal Care Services will remain open and will be implementing temporary protocols to protect the community and staff, and ensure animals at the shelter continue to receive care during this difficult time.

    Adoption services will continue with appropriate social distancing.

    Animal Control Officers will continue to accommodate the most emergent health and public safety issues in the community.

    Pet licensing can be done at the shelter by drop box; via mail by sending payment to: 7700 E. Spring St. Long Beach, CA 90815; over the phone by calling 562-570-3081; or online at www.longbeachanimalcare.com.

    Libraries

    Public city libraries will be closed through March 31, or until further notice.

    While libraries are closed, Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) is relaxing its borrowing policy.

    All late fees will be suspended and due dates extended during this period.

    Patron holds for items are also suspended.

    Patrons may continue to enjoy the items they have already borrowed.

    Items may be returned in outdoor book drops at any of our 12 locations.

    Library patrons are encouraged to make use of LBPL’s vast collection of digital resources available 24/7.

    E-books and e-audiobooks for children and adults, magazines, music and movies are available for free streaming and download.

    Students also may access free online tutoring and learning resources.

    Most resources are accessible using your LBPL library card number and PIN.

    Library staff are available to provide assistance through telephone reference at 562-570-7500, Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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    City Services

    All services requiring in-person visits or public service counter assistance (including licensing and building permits) will be suspended or made available via phone, online or through email.

    Building inspection services will continue.

    Health facilities are open for essential services; however, the Housing Authority will be closed to in-person visits and services will be provided online or via phone.

    The Long Beach Police Department’s Business Desk at Police Headquarters will remain open, though the City encourages everyone to call 562-435-6711 for non-emergency police assistance and 562-570-7260 for general information and questions regarding filing police reports. Jail visitation will be curtailed with the exception of clergy and lawyers.

    All Public Works services will remain in place with the exception of in-person permit submissions, which can be made online at http://www.longbeach.gov/lbds/building/permit-center/online/.

    Refuse collection and street sweeping will continue per the usual schedule.

    Energy Resources will provide restoration of gas service to customers currently shut-off for non payment. For more information, visit: www.longbeach.gov/energyresources.

    Passport services and civil ceremonies provided by the City Clerk’s office will be suspended.

    Financial Support for Residents and Businesses

    To aid residents and businesses financially during the difficult time, the City will be suspending penalties and interest for late payments for utilities and parking citations, for business license fees and library fines that are incurred beginning March 15 and at least through the end of March.

    The City also will be returning City Park fees or other City fees for canceled activities and events at City facilities. City Meetings

    Next week’s Long Beach City Council meeting will take place via teleconference.

    The City Council meetings of March 24 and April 7, 2020, will be canceled or conducted by teleconference. Electronic comments are encouraged.

    Commission meetings will either be suspended or conducted by teleconference at least through April, or until further notice.

    Written comments may also be submitted by email to cityclerk@longbeach.gov.

    The Council Chambers will be open to members of the public for comment, but public health officials encourage electronic comments.


  • 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.


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