LONG Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said the city is prepared and closely monitoring the coronavirus outbreak in the US, and that the city is taking extra steps at its airport and the sea port.
'This is a global public health crisis. We have to take this very seriously,' Mr Garcia said, reported KABC Channel 7.
Mr Garcia said while there are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Long Beach, the city is being proactive.
'Long Beach Airport for example, is undergoing extra cleaning, maintenance and disinfecting,' he said.
At the port of Long Beach, the second largest container port in the US, there are more precautions involving workers on ships that arrive from China.
'If a vessel comes from China with that crew, they have to remain on the vessel,' said port of Long Beach executive director Mario Cordero.
Concern is growing over the coronavirus, after the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a person in northern California that raises the possibility that the coronavirus is circulating in the community.
'Long Beach has been monitoring travellers returning from mainland China for 14 days after arrival to ensure they do not develop symptoms of COVID-19,' said Long Beach city health officer Dr Anissa Davis.
Ms Davis says out of 64 travellers they were notified of, they're monitoring eight people. So far, none have developed symptoms.
At the state level, governor Gavin Newsom says at least 8,400 people in California are being monitored. Thirty-three have tested positive for the virus.
Mr Newsom said the CDC has promised to send additional testing kits in the next few days.
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'This is a global public health crisis. We have to take this very seriously,' Mr Garcia said, reported KABC Channel 7.
Mr Garcia said while there are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Long Beach, the city is being proactive.
'Long Beach Airport for example, is undergoing extra cleaning, maintenance and disinfecting,' he said.
At the port of Long Beach, the second largest container port in the US, there are more precautions involving workers on ships that arrive from China.
'If a vessel comes from China with that crew, they have to remain on the vessel,' said port of Long Beach executive director Mario Cordero.
Concern is growing over the coronavirus, after the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a person in northern California that raises the possibility that the coronavirus is circulating in the community.
'Long Beach has been monitoring travellers returning from mainland China for 14 days after arrival to ensure they do not develop symptoms of COVID-19,' said Long Beach city health officer Dr Anissa Davis.
Ms Davis says out of 64 travellers they were notified of, they're monitoring eight people. So far, none have developed symptoms.
At the state level, governor Gavin Newsom says at least 8,400 people in California are being monitored. Thirty-three have tested positive for the virus.
Mr Newsom said the CDC has promised to send additional testing kits in the next few days.
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