Public Health Inspectors Continue to Visit Businesses to Ensure Compliance

39 New Deaths and 2,600 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) inspectors continue to visit businesses across the County every day to ensure compliance with required safety measures and masking guidelines, to provide technical assistance, and in response to complaints of non-compliance. Between August 14 and August 20, Public Health inspectors visited a total of 1,874 businesses, including restaurants, bars, breweries, hotels, gyms, retail stores, shopping malls, personal care businesses, and food and garment manufacturers. In general, the inspections revealed the majority of businesses were in compliance.

Public Health utilizes education and information sharing as the primary steps in gaining compliance. When compliance is not achieved, enforcement may include issuance of a notice of violation or a citation. From August 14 to August 20, five citations were issued to gyms and an office site for noncompliance with Health Officer Orders.

As the highly infectious Delta variant continues to spread, wearing masks regardless of vaccination status indoors and in crowded settings, including at outdoor mega events, reduces the risk of being infected with and transmitting COVID-19. Non-compliance at businesses can contribute to increased risk of workplace outbreaks and community transmission when COVID-19 spreads among employees and customers. Violations of safety requirements and dangerous conditions can be reported anonymously to Public Health by phone at 888-700-9995 or online at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

Today, Public Health confirms 39 new deaths and 2,600 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 39 new deaths reported today, six people who passed away were over the age of 80, 13 people who passed were between the ages of 65 and 79, 12 people who passed were between the ages of 50 and 64, and five people who passed were between the ages of 30 and 49. Three deaths were reported by the City of Long Beach. To date, Public Health identified 1,388,143 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 25,114 deaths.

There are 1,724 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 26% of these people are in the ICU.  Testing results are available for more than 7,960,000 individuals with 16% of people testing positive. Today’s test positivity rate is 2.8%.

“We wish healing and peace to everyone currently recovering from and those mourning a loved one lost to COVID-19,” said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer. “We are glad the majority of businesses are following the Health Officer Order on masking and other common-sense, best practice recommendations. Getting people vaccinated as quickly as possible is essential, particularly in places where people are at the highest risk. Unfortunately, over the past 18 months of the pandemic, COVID-19 has been the leading cause of death, surpassing coronary heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and all other leading causes of death. We must continue to work on having multiple layers of protection across the entire county as we start to move into influenza season. By increasing COVID-19 vaccinations and wearing masks in indoor settings, at worksites, and in crowded spaces, we can slow the spread of the virus.”

Public Health encourages everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated – it is the most important step you can take to protect yourself, your loved ones, and our L.A. County community and to ultimately end this pandemic.

Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated against COVID-19. Many vaccination sites across the county, including all the County-run sites, are also offering third doses of vaccine to eligible immunocompromised people. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

To find a vaccination site near you, 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.

COVID-19 Sector Protocols, Best Practices, COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, 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: