Point Mugu, Ventura County (Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 at 8:45 p.m.)—Travelers coming into Los Angeles International Airport who have signs of possible infection with Coronavirus COVID-19 may be taken to Ventura Naval Base at Point Mugu for a quarantine period, a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Sunday night:
Statement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on potential use of Naval Base Ventura County – Point Mugu for quarantine

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), working closely with the Department of Defense and other federal partners, is taking all reasonable steps to address an evolving public health emergency. As part of that effort, Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) – Point Mugu may receive American travelers coming through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) who, in an abundance of caution, would be quarantined to be monitored for symptoms of COVID-19 based solely on their travel history. Any travelers housed at the Base would be monitored for signs of infection and transferred to appropriate medical facilities if symptoms developed.

The Department of Defense has made sites available around the country to house such travelers, and NBVC-Point Mugu was one site determined to be suitable for travelers requiring quarantine. At this time, HHS is preparing this site should it be needed in the rapidly evolving public health response. Any actions that HHS takes, working with federal, state, tribal and local partners to address this public health emergency, are being done in a way that protects both those quarantined and other citizens as well. Imported cases of COVID-19 from a small number of travelers have been detected in the U.S. but this virus is NOT currently spreading in U.S. communities and the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time.

This is part of the February 21, 2020 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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