Men of Color in Los Angeles County Have Shockingly Higher Mortality Rates Than Women but Lower Vaccination Rates; More Than 5 Million Vaccine Doses Administered in L.A. County

3 New Deaths and 411 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 3 new deaths and 411 new cases of COVID-19. The lower number of cases and deaths may reflect reporting delays over the weekend.

To date, Public Health identified 1,226,191 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 23,479 deaths.

The seven-day average number of daily cases by episode date remains at 400 new cases per day. The County’s daily case numbers for the week ending April 4 are now lower than reported cases one year ago at the beginning of the pandemic, when Public Health reported 606 daily cases by episode date on April 4, 2020.

Of the 3 new deaths reported today, two people that passed away were between the ages of 50 and 64, and one person who died was between the ages of 30 and 49.

There are 470 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 6,212,000 individuals with 18% of people testing positive. Today’s daily test positivity rate is 1.3%.

There are significant differences in mortality rates between males and females in Los Angeles County that are troubling since case rates among women and men are relatively similar, with 11,866 cases per 100,000 women and 11,330 cases per 100,000 men. As of April 10, the cumulative mortality rate for females is 153 deaths per 100,000 women. Shockingly, the mortality rate among males in Los Angeles County is nearly double, at 289 deaths per 100,000 men.

Black/African American and Latino/Latinx males also experience higher rates of mortality than Asian and White males. The mortality rate for Black Los Angeles County male residents is 267 deaths per 100,000 people and for Latino males, the mortality rate is 490 deaths per 100,000 people; this is nearly two and a half times the mortality rate for Asian males and more than three times the mortality rate for White males.

Unfortunately, although men, and men of color in particular, have significantly higher risk of dying from COVID-19, males in Los Angeles County, specifically Black and Latino males, have much lower vaccination rates. Fewer males are being vaccinated than females, with only 30% of males in Los Angeles County having received at least one dose of vaccine as of April 4, while 44% of females have received at least one dose of vaccine.  Black and Latino males are also being vaccinated at lower rates than vaccination rates for all other groups. Only 19% of Black males in Los Angeles County and 17% of Latino males received at least one dose of vaccine, compared to 35% of Asian males and 32% of White males in Los Angeles.

We all need to work much harder to make sure that men, who have the greatest chances of dying from COVID-19, are aware of their risk and that we are making it very easy for them to get vaccinated.  Accurate information about the safety and effectiveness of the three available vaccines that protect from the COVID-19 virus needs to be widely available.

Public Health is making several changes to the Health Officer Order that will take effect on April 15. These changes align with the state changes to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy regarding indoor live events and performances, private events such as conferences, receptions and meetings, and private informal gatherings.  The updated Health Officer Order reflecting these modifications will be posted online on Wednesday along with changes to the protocols for each of these sectors.

Starting this Thursday, indoor live events and performances will be permitted in Los Angeles County with the following safety measures:

• Indoor live events and performances are able to open for in-state visitors only, who must pre-purchase tickets.
• Eating or drinking is not permitted anywhere except pre-designated eating areas.
• Masks must be worn at all times except when in designated eating areas.
• There must be 6-feet of distance between different households unless people are fully vaccinated.
• As with outdoor live events, employers must offer a weekly worker testing program.

For venues that hold up to 1,500 people, there is a maximum capacity limit of 15% or 200 people, whichever is fewer. However, the capacity limit can increase to 35% if all guests are tested or vaccinated. For venues holding more than 1,500 people, there is a capacity limit of 10% or 2,000 people, whichever is fewer, although the capacity limit can increase to 25% if all guests are tested or vaccinated.

Private meetings such as conferences, receptions and meetings will be permitted starting on Thursday, April 15 with the following safety measures:

• There must be a defined guest list or tickets must be purchased.
• Masks must be worn at all times unless attendees are eating or drinking.
• There must be 6-feet of distance between tables and chairs for guests not vaccinated.
• There must be assigned seating or a seating chart with a max of 6 people per table for guests not vaccinated.
• And there can be no intermingling of multiple private events.

For outdoor private events, a maximum of 100 people is allowed, but that limit can increase to 300 people if all guests are tested or vaccinated. Tables are also limited to 6 people from a maximum of 3 households unless everyone at the table is vaccinated.  Indoor private events are only allowed if all guests are tested or vaccinated with a limit of 150 guests.

Public Health is also modifying the protocols for private social or informal gatherings. Outdoor gatherings can have up to a maximum of 50 people. Masks will be required at all times unless people are eating or drinking. There must be 6-feet of distance between tables and chairs.  Seating at tables is restricted to 6 people from up to three households.  If everyone is vaccinated, the capacity limit at tables are not necessary.

Indoor private gatherings are permitted, but strongly discouraged. If you choose to hold an indoor private gathering, the following are required safety modifications:

• A max of 25 people or a 25% capacity limit where capacity limits exist.
• Masks must be worn at all times, unless everyone is full vaccinated.
• And there can be no eating or drinking unless everyone attending is fully vaccinated or everyone attending is fully vaccinated except for members of 1 household that does not have any high-risk individuals.

“I send my prayers to those who are experiencing grief. We are sending our love during this tragedy,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Thankfully, California and Los Angeles County have yet to see the increases so many other states and communities across the country are seeing. I am so grateful for our residents and businesses that are doing everything they can to stop the spread of this deadly virus that has claimed the lives of so many of our friends and family. Like so many of you, I feel hope for the first time in a long time, which makes it even more critical that we all follow the safety measures. We cannot let up. Please continue wearing your masks and physically distancing from others when in public. And please review the information about the safety and effectiveness of the three vaccines currently available to protect from COVID 19 so that when it is your turn to get vaccinated you feel comfortable taking this important step.”

More than 5,100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to people across Los Angeles County. Of these, 3,300,000 were first doses and more than 1,800,000 were second doses.

On Thursday, April 15, COVID-19 vaccines become available to any resident in Los Angeles County who is 16 and older.  The MyTurn website will be updated on Wednesday to reflect the change in eligibility; residents 16 and older can begin scheduling appointments for Thursday and later starting on Wednesday.  Please note, youth 16 and 17 can only receive the Pfizer vaccine and need to sign up at a site that offers this vaccine. Providers vaccinating residents in hard hit communities have had flexibility to vaccinate family members of eligible residents for the past couple of weeks and will continue with these efforts.

This week, 323,470 total doses were allocated to Los Angeles County.   Of this allocation, 139,870 doses are available for first doses and 183,600 are needed for second doses.  The County’s allocation for this week is almost 80,000 doses less than last week’s allocation in large part because the County received far fewer doses from Johnson & Johnson this week. Last week, the County received 118,000 Johnson & Johnson doses and this week, only 19,600 Johnson & Johnson doses.

The lack of supply continues to slow the pace of which we can provide vaccinations. Currently, the County has the ability to administer 734,000 vaccine doses this week, which is more than double the number of vaccines received this week.  In total, of the 709 vaccinations sites across the county this week, which is the most vaccination sites the County has had to date, 266 sites are in the hardest hit communities. These are communities with high case rates and low vaccination rates.  Mobile vaccine teams will continue administering vaccines this week, with a priority of vaccinating residents 65 and older, including residents in hard hit communities that are homebound or have limited mobility. There are 95 mobile vaccination teams scheduled to administer vaccinations this week at senior housing sites, senior centers, faith-based organizations and community-based organizations. These mobile sites are critical to our effort to vaccinate hard hit communities with either lower vaccination rates or lack of access. In the coming weeks, an additional 237 mobile vaccinations sites are scheduled throughout our county.

For information about how to make an appointment, what verifications you will need to show at your vaccination appointment, to sign up for a vaccination newsletter, 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.

 Please see additional information below: