On Wednesday, my colleagues and I heard from a variety of experts regarding the city's preparation for the coronavirus. The agencies involved included Los Angeles County of Public Health, the Emergency Management Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, the Port of Los Angeles and LAX.We were assured that we have taken the necessary steps. We discussed the safety of residents at public events, LAX and the Port, and were reminded several times to wash your hands for 20 seconds and stay home when you are sick.
My motion specifically asks both Los Angeles World Airports and the Port of Los Angeles to report back to the council in two weeks regarding their efforts to protect against spread of the virus. The airport serves roughly 63 million passengers annually, making it one of the busiest destination airports in the world.
At the same time, the port handles more than 500,000 cruise ship passengers, in addition to cargo from countries and regions hardest hit by the virus.
My motion is intended to safeguard the health of the general population and a specific subset; employees of the airport and port. On the same day my motion was approved, the media reported that a screener at LAX had tested positive for coronavirus.
While my motion and the others approved by the council are essential, it's important that we do not as a community lose perspective. We must be responsible and vigilant, but we don't need to be afraid.