UNDER AUTHORITY of CALIFORNIA HEALTH & SAFETY CODE
California is in a State of Emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a substantial danger to the health of the public within the County of Los Angeles. COVID-19 can easily spread between people who are in close contact with one another. Individuals in close contact with a person diagnosed with or likely to have COVID-19 may easily become infected and spread it even if they have only mild symptoms. There is no vaccine available to protect against COVID-19 and no specific treatment for its symptoms. Everyone is at risk for becoming ill with COVID-19, but some people are more vulnerable to serious illness, including pneumonia, organ failure, or death, due to their age, physical state, and/or health status. In order to help slow COVID-19's spread, protect vulnerable individuals, and prevent the healthcare system in Los Angeles County from being overwhelmed, it is necessary for the County of Los Angeles Health Officer ("Health Officer'') to require the self-quarantine of persons exposed to a person diagnosed with or likely to have COVID-19. Quarantine separates individuals who were exposed to COVID-19 from others, until it is determined that they are not at risk for spreading the disease. This protects everyone, including people who are high risk for serious illness, such as older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
Victory Starts Now, Staff
VSN is on the front lines of this fight to protect a community of over 100 adults at high risk for serious illness. All of us working at facilities with these individuals must take extra ordinary precautions at this time. We are here to protect our members as best we can by being vigilant and most importantly by not introducing the virus to our community re-entry programs.
Quarantine Requirements
All individuals who know that they have been in close contact, as a household member, an intimate partner, a caregiver outside of a healthcare setting, or other close contact, with a person diagnosed with or likely to have COVID-19 while that person was symptomatic (ill), are required to take the following actions:
Be quarantined in their home or another residence until 14 days from the last date that they were last in contact with the symptomatic person with or likely to have COVID-19. Self-quarantine is necessary if an individual has had close contact with a person who has:
a) A positive lab test for COVID-19
b) Signs and symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19 within 14 days of being in close contact with a person who had or was believed to have had COVID-19 OR
c) Been informed by a physician that they are likely to have COVID-19.
Individuals are required to quarantine themselves for the entirety of the 14-day
COVID-19 incubation period because they are at high risk for developing and spreading COVID-19. Quarantined persons may not leave their place of quarantine or enter any other public or private place during the period of quarantine, except to receive necessary medical care.
CIVIL DETENTION
The Health Officer may take additional action(s), which may include civil detention at a health facility or other location, to protect the public's health if an individual who is subject to this Order violates or fails to comply with this Order. Violation of this Order is also a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment, fine or both. (Penal Code § 120295, et seq.; Los Angeles County Code § 11.02.080.)
Carefully review and closely follow all requirements listed in the "Home Quarantine Guidance for Close Contacts to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)," which is available in English and Spanish.
If a quarantined person becomes sick with fever, cough, or shortness of breath (even if their symptoms are very mild), to prote.ct others from COVID-19, they should isolate themselves at home and away from other people and follow the "Home Isolation Instructions for People with Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) Infection," which is available in English and Spanish. This is because they are likely to have COVID-19 and if so, can spread it to others.
