Pasadena to update healthcare COVID-19 vaccination and masking requirements – Pasadena Star News

Pasadena Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Sell receives the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Monday, December 28, 2020 at Fire Station 36 in Pasadena. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

According to interim health officer Dr. Eric Handler will increase Pasadena’s COVID-19 immunization and masking requirements for healthcare workers and healthcare facilities.

Pasadena is one of the few cities in the state that operates its own independent health department. The following updated orders come into effect on Monday 3 April.

Vaccination: All healthcare workers must be up to date with COVID-19 immunizations by completing a COVID-19 primary series and receiving the latest booster dose within 15 days of eligibility, as directed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended.

Mask Requirement: Healthcare facility personnel are required to wear a well-fitting mask when caring for patients or working in patient care areas in all gated healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and hospice facilities.

The Pasadena Department of Health strongly recommends that patients, customers and visitors to healthcare facilities wear a mask. Patients, customers, and visitors are required to wear a mask when the healthcare facility is in outbreak status or there is evidence of high community transmission rates, as defined by the Los Angeles County CDC.

“While the SARS-CoV-2 virus remains a concern for all Pasadena residents, the virus poses a particular risk to the health of medically vulnerable residents and people who, based on their circumstances, may need to be exposed,” the city said in a statement. “Pasadena has a higher per capita population residing in long-term care facilities compared to the rest of Los Angeles County.”

People can go to myturn.CA.gov to find an outpatient clinic or to schedule an appointment.