By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–The city of San Diego and San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality and Public Health Services visited a Safe Sleeping site for homeless individuals over the weekend to investigate a mysterious illness that has affected residents and shelter staff.
On January 19, the city received reports of an abdominal illness outbreak at the O Lot Safe Sleeping site in San Diego. About 30 residents and four staff members of the nonprofit provider Dreams For Change experienced gastrointestinal symptoms.
Residents exhibiting symptoms are being isolated from the rest of the population, while janitorial services have been intensified to ensure thorough cleanliness. Additional bathroom and handwashing facilities have been set up, and residents are being supplied with bottled water on-site.
In alignment with guidance from the county, the city is proactively implementing measures to curb the spread of the illness, and safeguard the health and safety of its residents. These strategic actions encompass continuous sanitation efforts targeting shared spaces and common areas, including transportation shuttles.
O Lot, currently hosting approximately 370 residents accommodated in 320 tents, has a capacity for 408 tents. As a precautionary measure, new intakes at O Lot are temporarily halted while the investigation is underway. There are no reported cases of illness at the city’s second Safe Sleeping site located at 20th and B.
