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Recommendation to confirm the City Manager’s promulgation of the Order for Control of COVID-19 Access to Diagnostic Testing Through Health Care Facilities issued on August 26, 2020, with an effective date of September 7, 2020, by the City of Long Beach Health Officer as a regulation. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On March 19, 2020, the City’s Health Officer issued the "Safer at Home Order for Control of COVID-19" (Health Order) to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 within Long Beach. The City’s Health Officer has revised the Health Order from time to time, as necessary, to protect public health and safety during this ongoing emergency. On August 26, 2020, the City’s Health Officer issued the attached Order for Control of COVID-19 Access to Diagnostic Testing Through Healthcare Facilities, with an effective date of September 7, 2020, The Order was issued to ensure access to COVID-19 diagnostic testing in outpatient/ambulatory care settings to effectively prevent, clinically manage, and control COVID-19 in Long Beach.
On May 12, 2020, the City Council adopted Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) Chapter 8.120, “Temporary Enforcement of Long Beach Health Orders Related to COVID-19,” which became effective immediately as an urgency Ordinance. Chapter 8.120 requires, where practicable, the City Council to confirm COVID-19 Health Orders for the sole purpose of authorizing the City Manager’s promulgation of such Health Orders. In the event it is not feasible to do this, the City Manager is required to, within 14 days of promulgation of said Health Orders, request the City Council to confirm the City Manager’s promulgation of the Health Order. The City Manager’s promulgation of the Health Order, and City Council’s confirmation of such orders, authorizes enforcement authority of the Health Orders under the Proclamation of Local Emergency and provisions of Chapter 8.120.
This process recognizes the potential need for the City's Health Officer to quickly amend or update, and...
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