More Residents at Skilled Nursing Facilities are Protected Thanks to Increases in Those Who Have Received a Booster Dose 

25,784 New Positive Cases and 27 New Deaths Due to COVID-19 in Los Angeles County 

As the February 1st deadline approaches for all healthcare workers to get boosted, Public Health data shows that COVID cases among skilled nursing facility residents and staff are dropping due in part to the high numbers of staff and residents who have been vaccinated and boosted.

Vaccination rates among those eligible remain very high with 91% of residents and 97% of staff fully vaccinated. Over the past month, the numbers of residents that have been boosted has remained steady at around 82% of eligible residents as of January 9th. Among staff, rates are lower, with only 54% of staff boosted at the end of December to 65% boosted as of January 9th.

With more residents and staff fully vaccinated and boosted, new cases have declined by 14% among residents and 30% among staff for the week ending January 23rd compared to the previous seven days.

The data supports other evidence that has been shared nationally by the CDC on the importance of booster doses in reducing rates of infection, hospitalizations and deaths.  A recently released study by the Centers for Disease and Control found that adults who were unvaccinated were 5-times more likely to get infected when compared with adults who were fully vaccinated and boosted. Another report from the CDC also found that additional or booster doses were 90% effective at preventing hospitalization.

The powerful protection offered by boosters is the reason that all booster -eligible healthcare personnel in Los Angeles County are required, under the revised Health Officer Order issued December 23rd, to receive their booster dose by February 1st, 2022.

“The most tragic consequence of this surge is the increase in those dying from COVID. I extend my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost someone to this virus,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “The recent increase in deaths has, sadly, included a small number of our most vulnerable residents living in nursing homes. Fortunately, with more than 80% of residents up to date on their vaccinations, while this surge has resulted in terrifying increases in cases at nursing homes, most residents who are infected are fully vaccinated and experiencing milder illness. Given the evidence of waning protection from our vaccines over time, efforts need to continue with urgency on making sure that all eligible residents and staff are boosted as soon as possible.”

Today, Public Health confirmed 27 additional deaths and 25,784 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 27 new deaths reported today, one person was between the ages of 18 and 29, one person was between the ages of 30 and 49, five were between the ages of 50 and 64, 11 were between the ages of 65-79, and nine were over the age of 80 years old. Of the 27 newly reported deaths, 19 had underlying conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 28,507.

Public Health has identified a total 2,519,778 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today’s positivity rate is 13.5%.

There are 4,573 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 10,910,500 individuals, with 21% of people testing positive.

To keep workplaces and schools open, residents and workers are asked to:

Adhere to masking requirements when indoors or at crowded outdoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status.

Remain home when sick, isolate if positive and quarantine when in close contact.

Residents are legally required to be isolated if they have a positive COVID test result and are vaccinated.  Close contacts with symptoms and unvaccinated close contacts need to be quarantined.

For updated isolation and quarantine guidance, please visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and are recommended for everyone 5 years old and older to help protect against COVID-19. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status. Appointments are not needed at all Public Health vaccination sites and many community sites where first, second, and third doses are available.

To find a vaccination site near you, or to make an appointment, please visit:

www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) or www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish).

If you need assistance, you can also call 1-833-540-0473 for help:

Finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or Schedule a home visit if you are homebound.

For more information regarding COVID-19 in LA County you can also visit the Public Health website at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov here you will find information on:

COVID-19 sector protocols & best practices,

COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboards, and

COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive and, Recovery Dashboards

Please see additional information below:

Cases through 12:00pm 01/23/2022
	Total Cases	NEW
Laboratory Confirmed Cases	2,519,778	25784
— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)*	2,386,042	25784
— Long Beach	110,471	0
— Pasadena	23,265	0
Deaths	28,507	27
— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)	27,025	27
— Long Beach	1,104	0
— Pasadena	378	0
Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
– 0 to 4	70346
– 5 to 11	202729
– 12 to 17	201799
– 18 to 29	543076
– 30 to 49	767649
– 50 to 64	397840
– 65 to 79	151784
–  over 80	49213
–  Under Investigation	1606
Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
–  Female	1211350
–  Male	1107383
–  Other	885
–  Under Investigation	66424
Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
–  American Indian/Alaska Native	4220
–  Asian	134691
–  Black	120597
–  Hispanic/Latino	1104717
–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	12129
–  White	303400
–  Other	257189
–  Under Investigation	449099
Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
–  Hospitalized (Ever)	120843	**DATA  Under reported
Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
–  American Indian/Alaska Native	64
–  Asian	3459
–  Black	2446
–  Hispanic/Latino	14177
–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	97
–  White	6505
–  Other	229
–  Under Investigation	48