L.A. County Meets Yellow Tier Threshold, Indoor Operations for Bars and Higher Capacity Limits with Safety Measures Set for Thursday

18 New Deaths and 273 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County has met the threshold for the least restrictive yellow tier in the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Today, the State released updated blueprint tier numbers; L.A. County’s adjusted case rate dropped from 1.9 new cases per 100,000 people to 1.6 new cases per 100,000. The overall test positivity rate dropped from 0.9% to 0.7%, and in areas with the fewest health affirming resources, L.A. County’s test positivity rate dropped from 1.0% to 0.8%.

A revised Los Angeles County Health Officer Order will go into effect on Thursday, May 6, to reflect newly permitted activities.  Moving into the yellow tier allows, on Thursday, for increases in capacity in many sectors and allows bars to begin providing indoor service at 25% capacity. All of these changes will still require safety modifications, including masking, distancing and infection control to reduce the risk of transmission. The sectors with increases in capacity limits include amusement parks and fairs, gyms and fitness centers, yoga studios, private events, bars, hotels and short-term lodging rentals, private gatherings, breweries, indoor playgrounds, restaurants, cardrooms and racetracks, indoor and outdoor live events and performances, wineries and tasting rooms, family entertainment centers, and museums, zoos, and aquariums.

The modified Health Officer Order will be posted online on Wednesday, May 5 with an effective date of May 6.

Today, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 18 new deaths and 273 new cases of COVID-19.  Of the 18 new deaths reported today, six people that passed away were over the age of 80, seven people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, four 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 date, Public Health identified 1,234,202 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 23,930 deaths.

There are 386 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 25% of these people are in the ICU. COVID-19 testing results are available for nearly 6,525,000 individuals with 18% of people testing positive.

Public Health urges everyone to celebrate Cinco de Mayo safely.  Please avoid large crowds, celebrate outdoors, and wear your mask at all times except when eating and drinking.  Alcohol lowers inhibitions, please drink responsibly and safely to protect yourself and others and never drink and drive. Let’s continue to work together during our recovery journey.

“To the many people grieving a loved one lost to COVID-19, we extend our deepest condolences,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “It is a big deal for L.A. County, a county of more than 10 million people, to move into the least restrictive tier in the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. We are successful only because together we took a stand to lower COVID-19 transmission by following the guidance and safety measures. While transmission is low here, we are still in the middle of a pandemic, variants of concern are circulating, and there is still widespread transmission occurring in other parts of the world. We know how to get our rates low, now we must keep them low by getting vaccinated and continuing to follow the guidance. Our gains are fortified as more people are vaccinated.”

COVID-19 vaccinations are available at County-run sites and many community sites without an appointment. Everyone 16 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated. You should bring a photo ID with you and teens 16 and 17 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com  (Spanish) to find a vaccination site near you, to make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more. If you don’t have internet access, can’t use a computer, or you’re over 65, you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment. There may be an extended wait time to speak with an operator for help making an appointment during high demand times. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

County Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, 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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