The Los Angeles Post

Public Health Outlines Community Prevention Strategies as L.A. County Prepares to Issue a Modified Health Officer Order

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1,626 New Positive Cases and 80 New Deaths, Including One Person Between the Ages of 12-17, Due to COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

In anticipation of LA County moving into medium or low risk according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Community Level designation this Thursday, Public Health will issue a modified Health Officer Order which will go into effect on Friday, March 4.

Under this modified order, indoor masking will be strongly recommended, but not required, for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, except in high-risk settings where federal and state regulations continue to require masking, including everyone using public transit and all those in emergency shelters, health care settings, correctional and detention facilities, homeless shelters, and long-term care facilities. At all sites where masking indoors is no longer mandatory, employers will be required to offer, for voluntary use, medical grade masks and respirators to employees working indoors in close contact with other workers and/or customers.

Masks are required indoors at schools and childcare facilities until March 11 when masks will be strongly recommended for students, children, teachers, and staff regardless of vaccination status.  School districts in LA County may continue to require masking at schools and during school activities, along with other appropriate safety protections for their school community.

Masking is strongly recommended for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in indoor public spaces by both the state and county public health departments because transmission remains a significant risk for many across our county and state.

Masking is also still required for those who exit isolation or quarantine early through day 10 of their isolation or quarantine period. As a reminder, regardless of the community risk level, people can wear a mask based on their personal preference, comfort level, and informed by their personal level of risk.

At every risk level, those who are exposed or symptomatic should be tested and a negative test is   required to exit isolation or quarantine between days 6-10.

Two additional community prevention strategies include vaccine verification and ventilation. Vaccine verification in health care and congregate care settings l continues to be required across all community risk levels. Vaccine verification also continues to be required for entry to indoor mega events, with a negative test result as a substitute for those not fully vaccinated. Vaccine verification at outdoor mega events and indoor portions of bars, nightclubs and lounges is strongly recommended and no longer required.

Additionally, under Medium and High-risk Levels, visitors at healthcare facilities, including congregate care sites, are still required to verify vaccination status or provide a negative test result.

Regardless of community risk level, proper ventilation throughout indoor spaces should be maintained.

For more information, visit the Los Angeles County Post Surge Response Plan.

“I know so many are mourning the loss of a loved one and I send my heartfelt condolences and wishes for healing to each, and every family affected by this pandemic,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Despite the encouraging news, people who are unvaccinated, immunocompromised, or living in low-resourced communities, continue to be at higher risk and are more likely to become seriously ill and die from COVID-19. Along with the significant protection provided by vaccines and boosters, masks add an important barrier to transmission that protects those most vulnerable from the worst outcomes.  Therefore, Public Health, in alignment with the state,  strongly recommends that individuals keep their masks on in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status, until there is less risk for those at elevated risk.”

Today, Public Health confirmed 80 additional deaths and 1,626 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 80 new deaths reported today, one person was between the ages of 12-17, seven were between the ages of 30-49, 16 were between the ages of 50-64, 16 were between the ages of 65-79, and 32 were aged 80 years or older. Of the 80 newly reported deaths, 58 had underlying health conditions.  Information on the nine deaths reported by the City of Long Beach is available at www.LongBeach.gov  To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 30,853.

Public Health has reported a total of 2,799,169 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today’s positivity rate is 1.2%.

There are 907 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 11,443,300 individuals, with 22% of people testing positive.

A wide range of data and dashboards on COVID-19 from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health are available on the Public Health website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov including:

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

Please see additional information below: Cases through 12:00pm 3/1/2022

 

Total Cases

NEW

Laboratory Confirmed Cases

2,799,169

1626

— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)*

2,647,063

1479

— Long Beach

124,407

121

— Pasadena

27,699

26

Deaths

30,853

80

— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)

29,226

71

— Long Beach

1,229

9

— Pasadena

398

0

Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

– 0 to 4

81332

– 5 to 11

235783

– 12 to 17

230276

– 18 to 29

589829

– 30 to 49

843960

– 50 to 64

438089

– 65 to 79

169732

–  over 80

55206

–  Under Investigation

2856

Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  Female

1345529

–  Male

1226735

–  Other

983

–  Under Investigation

73816

Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  American Indian/Alaska Native

4877

–  Asian

161040

–  Black

132693

–  Hispanic/Latino

1215529

–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

13569

–  White

337700

–  Other

290224

–  Under Investigation

491431

Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  Hospitalized (Ever)

134304

**DATA  Under reported

Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  American Indian/Alaska Native

69

–  Asian

3660

–  Black

2689

–  Hispanic/Latino

15097

–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

105

–  White

7217

–  Other

300

–  Under Investigation

89