Public Health Continues to Investigate Correctional Facility Outbreaks

7 New Deaths and 853 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is investigating 19 ongoing outbreaks in correctional and law enforcement settings; a slight decrease from the 23 ongoing outbreaks in these settings reported a month ago, on September 3.

For the week ending September 24, 434 new cases associated with correctional facility outbreaks were reported; for the week ending October 1, 84 new cases associated with correctional facility outbreaks were reported. To date, there have been 11,635 cases among people who are incarcerated and staff at correctional facilities.

A total of 7,732 cases have been reported in county jail facilities (5,962 among people who are incarcerated and 1,770 among staff), 1,845 cases in state prison facilities (1,514 among people who are incarcerated and 331 among staff), 1,316 cases in the federal prison facilities (1,187 among people who are incarcerated and 129 among staff), and 742 cases in the juvenile facilities (272 among youth and 470 among staff).

To date, 48 correctional facility deaths have been reported, 42 among people who were incarcerated and six among staff.

Correctional facilities are required to verify the vaccination status of all workers and comply with respirator, masking, and testing mandates.  People aged 65 years or older and people 18 to 64 years old with high institutional or occupational risk, including workers and residents in prisons, are eligible for a booster dose of Pfizer. Other eligible groups include adults aged 18-64 at high risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions.

County, state and federal authorities continue working to reduce the potential for outbreaks at correctional facilities and to administer vaccines and additional/booster doses to staff and people eligible to receive them.

Today, Public Health confirms 7 new deaths and 853 new cases of COVID-19. The number of cases and deaths reflect reporting delays over the weekend. Of the seven new deaths reported today, one person who passed away was over the age of 80, two people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, two people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, and two people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49. To date, Public Health identified 1,463,889 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 26,160 deaths.

There are 790 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. This is the first time daily hospitalization numbers dropped under 800 since July. Testing results are available for nearly 8,700,000 individuals with 16% of people testing positive. Today’s test positivity rate is 1.0%.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to everyone grieving loved ones lost to COVID-19” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “While we are seeing lower case and hospitalization rates, transmission is still at a substantial level countywide, and we have a way to go before we are at a low level of transmission. Everyone is safer when transmission is a lot less – especially those living and working in high risk settings; including the prisons and jails. With growing evidence that COVID is airborne indoors, allowing for more efficient virus transmission, vaccinations and masking are powerful tools for protecting those who are incarcerated and those caring for them.”

Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status. Boosters are available for eligible individuals at all sites offering the Pfizer vaccine. Many vaccination sites across the county, including all the County-run sites, are also offering third doses of vaccine to eligible immunocompromised people. Appointments are not needed at many sites and all Public Health vaccination sites where first, second, and third doses are available.

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.

Please see additional information below: