Mayor Pro Tem Denis Bertone has confirmed that at least two employees who work at San Dimas City Hall have tested positive for COVID-19.
Bertone said the first positive case of COVID-19 at City Hall occurred at the beginning of the pandemic and the most recent case occurred in early December.
Interim San Dimas City Manager Brad McKinney said the city is handling these cases according to protocols established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
“Like many organizations throughout LA County and the state, the city has had COVID cases,” McKinney said during a COVID-19 update at the Dec. 8 City Council meeting.
Bertone said the city has installed plastic barriers, everyone is asked to wear a mask and employees are discouraged from congregating in small areas. Employees who work in the same department as the individual with the most recent positive COVID-19 test are currently working from home. City Hall remains open for all business but is operating at a lower capacity.
“I think we’re doing the best that we can without closing down the whole city hall, which would really be an inconvenience to the community and businesses that do business in the community,” Bertone said.
City Council has also continued to meet in person since March. McKinney said council members have the choice to attend meetings in-person or virtually.
“I’m concerned, and I take all the precautions. At city council meetings, we take all the precautions such as sitting more than six feet apart,” Bertone said. “And we all wear masks, and I’m not overly worried. But I mean, I’m concerned enough to take the precautions.”
Mayor Emmett Badar and Council Members Ryan Vienna, Eric Weber, and Bertone met in person at City Hall for the Dec. 8 City Council meeting. Council Member John Ebiner joined the meeting via Zoom.
San Dimas has a total of 1,316 cases and 17 deaths as of Dec. 13, according to data posted to the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health website.
Has the city contacted everyone who came in contact with the latest person who was infected?