L.A. County Continues Making Progress on Recovery Journey 23 New Deaths and 406 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 23 new deaths and 406 new cases of COVID-19. To date, Public Health identified 1,222,778 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 23,292 deaths.

Los Angeles County recently moved to the orange tier in the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy that allowed the County to expand permitted activities in several key sectors including bars, breweries, wineries, and distilleries, family entertainment centers, gyms, movie theatres, restaurants, retail establishments, grocery stores, and outdoor live events with required safety measures in place including masking and distancing requirements. Now that 4 million people have been vaccinated who are living in communities across the state in the Healthy Places Index quartile 1, L.A. County’s daily case rate must be at or below 5.9 new cases per 100,000 people and the County’s test positivity rate must be at or below 4.9% to remain in the orange tier. To move to the less restrictive yellow tier, the County’s case rate must be less than 2 new cases per 100,000 people and test positivity must be less than 2%.

Today, the State released updated numbers; L.A. County’s adjusted case rate remained at 3.1 new cases per 100,000 people. The test positivity rate dropped from 1.5% to 1.4% and in areas with the fewest health affirming resources, L.A. County’s test positivity rate dropped from 2.1% to 1.9%.

The State also announced today, that on June 15, California will fully reopen the state if there is enough vaccine supply for Californians 16 years and older to be vaccinated and hospitalizations rates remain stable and low, especially among fully vaccinated Californians.

Of the 23 new deaths reported today, three people that passed away were over the age of 80, 12 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, seven people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, and one person who died was between the ages of 30 and 49.

“To the many families mourning a loved one who passed away from COVID-19, we send you our deepest sympathies,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “L.A. County continues making progress and we appreciate the efforts of businesses and residents to keep everyone safe. When we follow the safety measures and keep vaccinating people efficiently, effectively and equitability, it prevents transmission and a surge in cases. The light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter every day we keep transmission low and more people get vaccinated.”

From March 15 to April 2, Public Health inspectors visited a total of 3,237 businesses, including restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries, gyms, retail establishments, hair salons and barbershops, personal care services, grocery stores, and cardrooms.  Overall, the inspections revealed the majority of businesses were in compliance with most of the Health Officer Order protocols. Inspectors noted 82% of hair salons and barbershops,  86% of personal care services and 95% of restaurants were in compliance with face covering and face shield requirements, and  87% of retail establishments, 88% of restaurants and 89% grocery stores were in compliance with physical distancing measures.

Businesses not adhering to safety protocols to protect workers and customers increase the risk for COVID-19 spread. A list of non-compliant businesses that received citations can be found online. Non-compliance and dangerous conditions at businesses can be reported to Public Health by phone at 888-700-9995 or online at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.  These tips can be submitted anonymously.

There are 568 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 25% of these people are in the ICU. Testing results are available for nearly 6,142,000 individuals with 18% of people testing positive.

COVID-19 vaccine eligibility expanded to all residents 50 through 64 years old in addition to all other eligible groups. On April 15, vaccines become available to any resident in Los Angeles County who is 16 and older.

For information about who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in L.A. County, how to make an appointment if it is your turn, what verifications you will need to show at your vaccination appointment, and much more, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com  (Spanish). Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

County Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, Recovery Dashboard, and additional actions you can take to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

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