{"id":43396,"date":"2021-12-27T15:57:12","date_gmt":"2021-12-27T23:57:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=43396"},"modified":"2021-12-27T15:57:12","modified_gmt":"2021-12-27T23:57:12","slug":"despite-high-vaccination-levels-healthcare-worker-case-numbers-are-rising-new-booster-dose-requirement-aimed-at-ensuring-adequate-hospital-staffing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=43396","title":{"rendered":"Despite High Vaccination Levels, Healthcare Worker Case Numbers Are Rising; New Booster Dose Requirement Aimed at Ensuring Adequate Hospital Staffing"},"content":{"rendered":"

9 New Deaths, 7,425 New Positive Cases of Confirmed COVID-19 in Los Angeles County<\/em><\/h3>\n

Public Health reports a high proportion of healthcare workers, across a variety of settings, are fully vaccinated (with either two doses of an mRNA vaccine, or one dose of Johnson and Johnson vaccine). As of mid-November, 91% of hospital workers, 93% of dialysis workers, and 83% of EMS workers were vaccinated; as of December 12th<\/sup>, 96% of skilled nursing facility staff\u00a0were also\u00a0fully vaccinated. Nevertheless, with increased community transmission, cases among healthcare workers are now rising.<\/p>\n

During the week ending on December 18th, a total 292 cases were identified among L.A. County healthcare workers, an increase of 26% from the previous week. \u00a0Meanwhile, 46% of hospitals in the county are reporting staffing shortages, compared with 20% at the outset of last winter\u2019s case surge.<\/p>\n

In alignment with the State of California, LA County\u2019s new Health Officer Order requiring booster doses for all healthcare workers is a key protective step aimed at reducing infections by increasing the numbers of workers with the optimal safety provided by the booster does.\u00a0 And while health care workers are generally highly vaccinated, many have not yet received their booster dose; for example, though fully vaccinated staff rates remain very high in the skilled nursing facility setting, the proportion of those who have received booster doses lags behind at approximately 50-60%.<\/p>\n

The revised order, issued December 23rd, requires booster-eligible workers in healthcare settings be boosted by February 1st, 2022 or be tested for COVID-19 twice a week beginning December 27th<\/sup>\u00a0(if in acute health care or long-term care settings). The order also recommends all workers upgrade their face coverings to surgical masks or higher-level respirators (such as an N95 mask). The goal of this order is to protect\u00a0LA County\u2019s healthcare workers, patients, facility residents, and community at large by ensuring an essential workforce remains as healthy and protected as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cI send my heartfelt condolences to everyone mourning the loss of a loved one to COVID-19,\u201d said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. \u00a0\u201cKeeping healthcare workers safe is critical to maintaining functionality across our healthcare facilities when surges lead to rising rates of hospitalizations,\u201d Ferrer continued. \u201cAcross multiple healthcare settings, our health care personnel have given their all and been fully vaccinated at high levels for many months. However, the threat of rising cases and concerning hospital staffing shortages require us to act quickly to ensure that in the face of the high transmissible Omicron variant, our essential workforce has an important added layer of protection.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Public Health confirmed nine additional deaths and 7,425 new cases of COVID-19.\u00a0 Today\u2019s number of cases and deaths reflect the weekend reporting delays. \u00a0Of the nine new deaths reported today, three were between the ages of 50 and 64, one was between the ages of 65-79 and five were over the age of 80 years old. Of the nine newly reported deaths, six had underlying conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 27,555.<\/p>\n

Public Health has identified a total 1,623,442 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today\u2019s positivity rate is 12.4%; this represents a three-fold increase since last week, reflecting high levels of community transmission.<\/p>\n

There are 904 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 9,953,000 individuals, with 15% of people testing positive.<\/p>\n

Public Health would like to remind residents that getting vaccinated or boosted remains critical as holiday traveling and gatherings continues. Additionally, all residents across LA County should:<\/p>\n