Illustration by Darlene Maes
By Matthew Alford, Staff Reporter
The same week the city of Carson voted to make it mandatory that anyone out in public must wear some type of mask or face covering, one of the construction workers on the CSUDH campus tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently self-quarantining along with 13 fellow co-workers.
“The exposure to campus is considered very low, given the crew worked within the construction site, which is fenced off and isolated from other campus operations,” CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham said in a campus-wide email Friday announcing the news, along with several other matters related to the coronavirus. “Please join me in wishing everyone on that construction crew well, and the worker a full recovery.”
Three days before Parham’s email, the Carson City Council voted unanimously last Tuesday to require all people shopping or working in businesses that remain open to wear some kind of face mask. The order, which seeks voluntary compliance rather than fines, takes effect Monday.
The city of Los Angeles’ mandatory face mask law went into effect Friday.
According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, as of yesterday at noon, Carson had 118 positive COVID-19 results, one of the highest rates per 100,000 people (125) in Los Angeles County. Only Palos Verdes Estates and West Hollywood had higher rates; several Los Angeles neighborhoods, including Melrose, Bel-Air and Brentwood.
“You can wear any cloth mask, any washable mask — this was made by my sister,” Carson Mayor Oscar Robles was quoted saying at the meeting by the Daily Breeze Newspaper. “Having your mouth and nose covered is another safety measure that literally saves lives — it’s not an exaggeration.”
In a campus-wide email Friday, CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham said that all staff still working on campus, students living in university housing and “others who visit campus should be aware of this ordinance when coming to or leaving university property.”
Also in the email, Parham announced that a drywaller working on the new student housing project was sent home ill last week and tested positive for COVID-19. The drywaller and approximately 13 other co-workers he worked closely with are currently self-quarantining.
Following is the entire text of President Parham’s Friday memo.
DATE: April 10, 2020
TO: CampusCommunity
FROM: Thomas A. Parham, Ph.D.
President
SUBJECT: COVID-19 UPDATE: Expanded public health measures
Dear Campus Community,
I imagine most of you are like me, waking up each day to the latest news about the COVID-19 pandemic and hoping to read that the curve truly is flattening, and the worst is over. We are not there yet, but I am optimistic that the sacrifices we are making individually and collectively now will bring us to that point of a healthy community sooner than later. Let’s keep being vigilant, comply with public health advisories, and find ways to extend a hand to or share resources with those in need.
Until a COVID-19 vaccine is found, public health measures appear to be the best defense against exposure. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added the recommendation that people wear face coverings while continuing to practice good hygiene and social distancing. Several cities—including Carson and Los Angeles—have turned that recommendation into a requirement this week to slow the virus’ spread.
Face Masks Required in Carson
Beginning Monday, Carson will require residents of and visitors to the city to wear a mask or other covering over their nose and mouth while out in public. As CSUDH is located within Carson, staff who continue to work on campus, students living in University Housing, and others who visit campus should be aware of this ordinance when coming to or leaving university property.
I do not anticipate this ordinance will impact current campus operations. In recent weeks, we have been providing face masks to protect employees who continue to clean, maintain, and provide essential customer service on campus that could put them at risk. I do, however, want to ensure that our housing students and staff are protected.
I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has reached out with offers to make cloth masks or provide commercial dust masks for our housing community. This swift response reflects a core Toro value—our commitment to social responsibility—and supplements faculty and student endeavors to create face shields and masks for healthcare workers that we reported on in campus news this week.
Campus Construction Worker
I am saddened to report that a crew member working on our new student housing project was sent home ill this week and tested positive with COVID-19. The construction drywaller and approximately 13 other co-workers he worked closely with are currently self-quarantining. The exposure to campus is considered very low, given the crew worked within the construction site, which is fenced off and isolated from other campus operations. Please join me in wishing everyone on that construction crew well, and the worker a full recovery.
Religious Observances
This adherence to state and local directives and public health advisories does not dampen our desire and compulsion to celebrate religious and cultural rituals this week. Thus, I close with a recognition of the Passover and Easter holidays, which many will be celebrating this weekend, albeit in a very different way than any of us have before.
While the camaraderie and spirit of a communal gathering would certainly be welcome at this time, responsible public health practices make that impossible this year. I hope that your private observances help bring you peace during this stressful time, and encourage everyone to reach out to friends and family by phone, video, or social media to share a kind word or message of hope.
Let me wish all of those who observe, participate in, and celebrate these traditions a very happy holiday.
