Health Officials Are Recommending LA Marathon Attendees Stay 6 Feet Away From Each Other Due To Coronavirus – Forbes

Topline: Health officials in LA County did not cancel the city’s annual marathon set to take place on Sunday, but instead recommended attendees stay six feet away from people they don’t know, illustrating how the virus is upending large events as public health officials work to combat disease’s spread.

• In a statement, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said attendees should practice a form of “social distancing,” a public health principle that involves limiting contact with people in order to reduce the spread of an infectious disease.
• The department specifically recommended that spectators at the LA Marathon “keep a distance of at least six feet between you and another person who is not your family member or friend.”
• Attendees should also avoid sharing food, water bottles and shaking hands while frequently washing and using hand sanitizer, the department said.
• Health officials are not canceling the event altogether, but say sick people, including runners, should stay home.
• The Department of Public Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes asking about the logistics of such a recommendation.

Crucial quote: “We are not currently recommending the suspension of any large public events, including the LA Marathon,” said Barbara Ferrer, LA county’s director of public health. “The public can continue to enjoy all that LA County has to offer, including this historic event. However, we do want people to take enhanced measures to protect themselves from the spread of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19; this includes staying home if you are sick and frequently washing your hands.”

Key background: Organizers are rethinking how best to handle large gatherings in the wake of the coronavirus. Businesses are telling employees to refrain from shaking hands in meetings. Tech companies, such as Facebook and Google, have nixed annual conferences altogether. And events that haven’t been canceled have seen attendees or backers drop out.

News peg: California declared an emergency on Wednesday after officials announced the first coronavirus death in the state. There are 230 confirmed cases of the disease in the U.S. and 11 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins. Public health experts predict more cases will be reported as testing becomes more widely available.