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(November 21, 2020, 7:05 p.m.) -- LBREPORT.com has learned that LBFD management applies a COVID-19 standard approved by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that lets asymptomatic but possibly COVID-19-infected LB firefighters avoid a 14 day quarantine required for members of the public.
On November 20, the City of Long Beach publicly disclosed in its daily COVID-19 update that "two public-facing Fire Department employees have tested positive for COVID-19." The City update said they include "(a) an employee who isn't a Long Beach resident and was last at work on Nov. 16, now recovering at home.and (b) an employee assigned to Fire Station 2, who isn't a Long Beach resident, and was last at work on Nov. 17 and is now recovering at home."
The LB Health Department's publicly stated protocol for most individuals exposed to COVID-19 states:
[CDC summary slide] "Anyone who has had close contact with someone who has or is likely to have COVID-19 while the person was infectious (during the time when they had symptoms or 48 hours before the person's symptoms began) is required to self-quarantine in a residence until 14 days from the last date that they were last in contact with the symptomatic person who had, or was likely to have, COVID-19."
"[R]eintegrating exposed critical infrastructure workers who are not experiencing any symptoms and have not tested positive back into onsite operations should be used as a last resort and only in limited circumstances [emphasis in original] such as when cessation of operation of a facility may cause serious harm or danger to public health or safety."
The publicly unstated reality: requiring a 14 day quarantine for all asymptomatic but possibly exposed critical infrastructure workers might not leave sufficient workers to perform functions in those essential critical sectors.
The publicly uncomfortable conclusion: members of the public may in some cases encounter asymptomatic LB firefighters or other "essential critical workers" who are on notice that they've possibly been exposed to COVID-19.
LBFD Public Information Officer/Firefighter Brian Fisk points out that if an initial telephone screening with a patient indicates potential COVID-19 issues, responding firefighters don extensive personal protective gear that goes beyond a face mask; it includes a gown, shields and other items to protect the patient and the responding firefighters.
"The public should not be afraid to contact LBFD or otherwise interact with LB firefighters out of concern that a firefighter may have been exposed to COVID-19," he said.
[Scroll down for further.]
Until Nov. 16, the CDC standard was that an "essential critical worker" exposed to COVID-19 should take their temperature before work, wear a face mask at all times and practice social distancing in the workplace as work duties permit. Such workers shouldn't share headsets or objects near faces, congregate in the break room or other crowded places, and shouldn't stay at work if they become sick. [CDC source text here.]
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On November 16, 2020, the CDC updated its recommendations "to accommodate new scientific evidence, evolving epidemiology, and the need to simplify the assessment of risk.
The CDC said its updated recommendations are based on:
Growing evidence of transmission risk from infected people without symptoms (asymptomatic) or before the onset of recognized symptoms (pre-symptomatic);
A need to communicate effectively to the general public;
Combined "Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or
Confirmed COVID-19" and "COVID-19 Critical Infrastructure Sector Response Planning" documents to consolidate and clarify this information."
Clarified that reintegrating exposed critical infrastructure workers who are not experiencing any symptoms and have not tested positive back into onsite operations should be used as a last resort and only in limited circumstances [emphasis in original] such as when cessation of operation of a facility may cause serious harm or danger to public health or safety.
Added that employers are encouraged to work with state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) public health officials to determine the safest way to reintegrate exposed workers who are not experiencing any symptoms and have not tested positive back into onsite operations.
Clarified that all workers should wear a cloth mask in accordance with CDC and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance and any state or local requirements.
To ensure the continuity of essential functions, CDC advises that critical infrastructure workers may be permitted to continue working following potential exposure to a person with confirmed COVID-19, under certain circumstances. Critical infrastructure workers conduct a range of operations and services that are typically essential to continued critical infrastructure viability, including staffing operations centers, maintaining and repairing critical infrastructure, operating call centers, working construction, and performing operational functions. This interim guidance is intended to assist with the assessment of risk and application of work restrictions for critical infrastructure workers who may have had exposure to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, but are not experiencing symptoms and have not tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. [emphasis in original.] Separate guidance is available for healthcare personnel, international travelers, and individuals with community-related exposure.
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LBREPORT.com has learned that LBFD's Hazmat Team sprayed and decontaminate the affected fire station. No members were experiencing symptoms and remained at work and finished their shifts.
On or about Nov. 18, LB firefighters who worked alongside the two COVID-19 positive firefighters received an email [we presume from management] stating in pertinent part:
As you may be aware, an LBFD employee that has worked at Station -- this week has recently been diagnosed with COVID 19.
You are receiving this email because you have also worked there while this individual was on duty. Because of this, there is a chance that the virus could have been transmitted to you.
...If you are not experiencing any symptoms, a COVID-19 test, in general, may not immediately be recommended. This is for a couple of reasons: 1) individuals without symptoms are much less likely to have a COVID-19 infection / be contagious, and 2) if an individual is in fact infected, and without symptoms, the PCR test may come back negative. This may occur because the individual is in the early stages of the infection, and their viral load is not high enough for the test to detect it yet.
The consensus in the medical community is that it is acceptable to test individuals who are asymptomatic 5-7 days after a confirmed exposure to COVID-19. Using the contact tracing that has being performed by the Medical Team, we recommend the following: You may choose to be tested anytime between this coming Saturday and Monday.
Please note: Receiving a COVID-19 test is not mandatory.
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As reported on Nov. 19 by LBREPORT.com, at least twelve sworn Long Beach police officers -- in multiple divisions including North, South and West plus one civilian employee -- have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past two weeks.
The City said its "Health Department is working with the Police Department to investigate [the] COVID-19 outbreak... The Departments [Police and Health] are working together to investigate and conduct contact tracing to identify additional staff who may have come in close contact with the infected officers. Those who may have been exposed are being notified and recommended to quarantine. Personnel in all affected Divisions are undergoing increased testing, and workplaces have been cleaned and disinfected."
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.
