Southern California Dragon Boat Club Leadership/Members:

 

Please be assured that we are closely following all updates on this virus from international, national and local agencies: World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Los Angeles County, Long Beach City, and others. 

 

Dragon boat practices at Mother's Beach are voluntary. We do have paddlers who participate from all areas including Los Angeles County where some cases have been confirmed. If you are concerned about contracting this virus, you may want to skip your practices until you feel safe to do otherwise.

 

Coronavirus, officials in Long Beach and elsewhere have said, usually causes mild symptoms, such as fever and cough. But it can cause more severe symptoms, such as pneumonia and difficulty breathing - and be fatal for certain folks such as the elderly or those with other health-related issues.

 

The virus primarily spreads through person-to-person transmission - generally among those in close contact, within six feet - or through respiratory droplets via coughing or sneezing.

 

What you can do to reduce risk:

• Wash your hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday to yourself twice)

• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash

• Get enough hours of sleep

• Eat healthily (balanced nutrition)

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces; and

• STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK

 

If there comes a time when it is recommended that group events be cancelled to help contain the virus, we'll let you know if practices at Mother's Beach or the Spring Race in April will be affected. For now, the July race will still take place.

 

- Dr. Chen/Mike Baker/Mary Melton