As COVID-19 Spreads, Public Health Supports Skilled Nursing Facilities with Third Doses

30 New Deaths and 2,789 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

COVID-19 case numbers among staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities have increased slightly, in part due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, small numbers of unvaccinated staff and residents, and a slight increase in the number of post vaccination infections among those fully vaccinated. However, because of high vaccination rates among staff and residents, relatively few of those infected have passed away from their infections.

For the week ending August 15, 102 people tested positive for COVID-19 at skilled nursing facilities: 25 new cases were among skilled nursing facility residents, and 77 new cases among skilled nursing facility staff.  Sadly, three nursing home residents passed away during this time period. Over the previous four weeks, an average of 79 new cases were reported among staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities.

Currently, 87% of residents and staff at skilled nursing facilities are fully vaccinated. Skilled nursing facilities are required to verify the vaccine status of all workers and routine testing of staff and residents is also required along with stringent infection control directives. By September 30, healthcare workers, including staff at skilled nursing facilities, are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Many skilled nursing home residents are immunocompromised people who are eligible for a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Public Health continues to work with staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities to prioritize these most vulnerable residents for third doses. As of Monday, an estimated 150 third doses have been administered to immunocompromised residents at skilled nursing facilities.

Today, Public Health confirms 30 new deaths and 2,789 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 30 new deaths reported today, nine people who passed away were over the age of 80, eight people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, 10 people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, and two people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49. One death was reported by the City of Long Beach. To date, Public Health identified 1,397,236 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 25, 211 deaths.

COVID-19 deaths have increased 6% over the past week to a 7-day average of 18 deaths per day.

There are 1,723 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized, a decrease of 63 people over the past week. Since Sunday, daily hospitalizations have remained under 1,750.

Testing results are available for nearly 8,035,000 individuals with 16% of people testing positive. Today’s test positivity rate is 2.7%.

“To the many people experiencing the sadness of losing a loved one to COVID-19, we are deeply sorry for your loss,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “This virus continues to cause serious, life-threatening illness among many who are infected and the differences in death rates between unvaccinated and vaccinated people are stark. Unvaccinated adults ages 18 to 49 have a death rate of almost 2 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with almost no deaths among vaccinated members of this age group. Meanwhile, adults over 50 who are unvaccinated were 28 times more likely to die as a result of COVID-19 than those over 50 who are vaccinated. Vaccinations are what create a powerful layer of protection for nursing home residents – and this protection has limited the devastation of Delta for some of our most vulnerable residents.”

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.

Visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish) to find a vaccination site near you, 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, 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.

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