Skilled Nursing Facility Cases Remain Low; Public Health Urges Everyone to Celebrate Father’s Day and Juneteenth Safely

9 New Deaths and 253 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 9 new deaths and 253 new cases of COVID-19. Of the nine new deaths reported today, three people that passed away were over the age of 80, four people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, and two people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64.

To date, Public Health identified 1,247,216 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,435 deaths. There are 220 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 24% of these people are in the ICU. Testing results are available for nearly 6,936,000 individuals with 17% of people testing positive. Today’s daily test positivity rate is 0.7%.

Cases at skilled nursing facilities dropped significantly since staff and residents have been vaccinated and continue to remain low. For the week ending June 5, nearly 40,000 COVID-19 tests were completed among skilled nursing facility staff and residents and 21 people tested positive for COVID-19; 8 new cases among residents and 13 new cases among staff; the majority of these cases are among unvaccinated individuals. For comparison, the last week of December 2020, a total of 2,532 people tested positive for COVID-19; 1,423 cases among residents and 1,109 cases among staff. Currently, 83% of skilled nursing facility staff and 82% of skilled nursing facility residents are fully vaccinated.  High rates of vaccination are correlated with low case rates among staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities.

“To everyone who lost a loved one or friend to COVID-19, we are so sorry for your loss,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Many people will gather this weekend with family and friends to celebrate Father’s Day and Juneteenth.  If you’re celebrating the holidays with someone elderly or with underlying health conditions, and they haven’t been vaccinated, I encourage you to celebrate safely outdoors with masks and distancing or virtually.  While cases and other metrics remain low, COVID-19 transmission and severe health outcomes continue among unvaccinated people. If your father, grandfather, great-grandfather, or other family member hasn’t had a chance to get vaccinated yet, now is a good time to take them to get vaccinated. Vaccinations remain widely available throughout L.A. County.”

If you are unvaccinated and in a setting where you are in close contact with other people who may not be fully vaccinated, consider wearing a higher level of protection, such as wearing two masks (double masking) or a respirator (e.g., N95 or KN95). This is especially important if you are in an indoor setting.

Everyone traveling this holiday weekend are urged to follow all national public health travel, testing and quarantine guidelines. Please do not travel if you are sick, you have a recent positive COVID-19 viral test result, or you are waiting for results of a COVID-19 viral test after being exposed to the virus.

Workplaces remain under the current Cal/OSHA standards, which now allows most fully vaccinated employees to stop wearing masks. Masks are required for all workers in public transit and at transportation hubs, K-12 schools, child care sites, children’s camps, youth serving programs, health care facilities, state and local correctional and detention facilities, emergency and homeless shelters, and wherever businesses require all workers to wear face coverings. For more information on the County reopening including masking requirements, travel guidance, best practices, and remaining sector protocols, visit: www.ReopeningLACounty.com

Beginning today, Friday, June 18 through next Thursday, June 24 at County-run vaccination sites, participating LA City sites, and St. John’s Well Child and Family Center sites, everyone 18 and older coming to get their first vaccine or who brings a first-time vaccine recipient with them to their second dose appointment, will have an opportunity to win one of three prizes: two 17-ticket packages to see Pepe Aguilar at the Staples Center this November, and one VIP Experience for 20 people at Universal Studios Hollywood. Official rules and participating site locations can be found on the Los Angeles County Vaccination Sweepstakes page online.

To find a vaccination site near you, to make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish). 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, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home-visit if you are homebound.  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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