Public Health Encourages Residents to Plan for a Safe Halloween

16 New Deaths and 1,122 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

As the highly transmissible Delta variant continues to account for 100% of COVID-19 strains seen among samples sequenced in the Los Angeles County area, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) urges residents to plan for a safe Halloween.

While the County is in a better place this year with 60% of the nearly 10.3 million L.A. County residents fully vaccinated, Halloween can still present COVID-19 transmission risk this year. When planning your Halloween activities, think about your and your family’s level of risk and remember where COVID-19 spreads more easily:

• Closed spaces with poor air flow
• Crowded places with many people nearby
• Close contact settings especially where people are talking, laughing, screaming, or breathing heavily close together.

The safest activities will be those that are outside, including outdoor costume parties, pumpkin patch visits, outdoor ghost tours, hayrides, and trick-or-treating – when done safely. Wherever possible, aim to be outside, particularly if you are with individuals, including children, that are not yet vaccinated; masks covering your nose and mouth should be worn if in crowds or close contact with others not in your household. Helpful information for residents, business, and event organizers to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during holidays can be found online, visit:  http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/holidays.htm

Today, Public Health confirms 16 new deaths and 1,122 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 16 new deaths reported today, four people who passed away were over the age of 80, six people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, five people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, and one person who died were between the ages of 30 and 49. To date, Public Health identified 1,476,791 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 26,410 deaths.

There are 638 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 28% of these people are in the ICU.

Testing results are available for nearly 8,870,000 individuals with 15% of people testing positive. Today’s test positivity rate is 0.8%.

“We send our deepest sympathies to the friends and families grieving the loss of a loved one to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “As we move into the fall and winter months, the best thing all of us can do to get ready for the holidays is to get vaccinated as soon as possible if we are eligible. With community transmission at a substantial level, surrounding children under 12 who cannot yet get the vaccine with fully vaccinated teens and adults offers our youngest residents important protection from transmission of the virus.  And while vaccines prevent individuals from getting severe illness, high community vaccination rates also prevent new variants from taking hold, increasing our chances of ending the pandemic.”

Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated. L.A. County continues to offer COVID-19 vaccines at many different sites across the county that have weekend and evening hours. 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. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status. 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.

Vaccinated middle and high school students are eligible for free UCLA football tickets. UCLA has partnered with Public Health to give away free tickets to a UCLA football game at the Rose Bowl to middle or high school students in L.A. County who’ve received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while tickets last. Students aged 12 to 18 who’ve received at least one dose can sign up for the free tickets online by visiting: http://ph.lacounty.gov/DPHUCLAVaxforTix.

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: