Coronavirus: Health Official To Speak At Malibu Council Meeting

MALIBU, CA — An official from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will give a presentation to the Malibu City Council at next Monday's City Council meeting about the current status of the new coronavirus in L.A. County, including numbers of cases, severity, treatments and precautions for the public, and what actions public health officials are taking, the City announced Friday.

"We should not panic, however, we must take the coronavirus situation very seriously," Mayor Karen Farrer said. "It is crucial for us as a community to stay informed, know our risks, take all the precautions that we can, and be prepared."

Los Angeles County and the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Pasadena declared a Level Three local emergency this week. This Level Three local emergency enables local agencies with their own public health departments to "transition into full preparedness mode" and makes them eligible for state and federal funding for any increase in COVID-19 cases and possible community spread, the City of Malibu news release said.

All local jurisdictions within Los Angeles County, including Malibu, fall under this public health declaration.

"The City, in standard preparation for any emergency or disaster, has plans in place for continuity of government services and business operations," the City of Malibu news release said. "The City is also currently developing a Pandemic Response Plan that will address continuity of operations for businesses, and City government services in case a serious outbreak of corona (or other communicable disease) occurs locally."

Malibu will continue to follow the lead of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in implementing protocols for public spaces and in messaging to the community.

Anyone unable to attend the meeting may watch the presentation live or later on-demand on the Malibu City website or on the City of Malibu's YouTube page.

The City urges the public to follow these hygiene and containment measures:

• Avoid / Stay away from sick people;
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or alcohol-based hand cleaner;
• Keep hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth;
• Disinfect public counters, desks, common areas, phones, keyboards, etc.;
• Use disinfectant wipes identified for use against Influenza A&B and Coronaviruses;
• If you have symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) stay home and call a doctor;
• Remain home until you have spoken with your doctor or health provider and are cleared to return to work; and
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.

For updates and information about the coronavirus situation in the United States and in Los Angeles County, severity, treatments, precautions, and other important public health information, visit the L.A. County Public Health website and the CDC website.

Malibu City Hall is at 23825 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu, CA 90265.

Don't miss updates about precautions in Malibu as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.