As of Monday, March 29, the L.A. County Dept. of Public Health confirmed seven new deaths and 378 new cases of COVID-19. There were 655 people with COVID-19 hospitalized with 19% of these people in the ICU.
Public Health identified 1,218,583 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 23,084 deaths. Cases across the Southland: Los Angeles County shows 1,155,414 cases, Long Beach with 52,037 cases and Pasadena with 11,132. According to race and ethnicity, COVID-19 statistics show: American Indian/Alaska Native with 1,959; Asian with 53,357; Black with 42,872; Hispanic/Latino with 583,466; Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander with 4,178; White with 121,456; those of other race and ethnicity with 104,214 and 243,912 under investigation.
As access to vaccines become available to more people, life inches closer to normal. Schools and businesses are able to open with limited capacity allowing more options other than virtual attendance. The Los Angeles Department of Public Health is asking everyone to continue adhering to health guidelines.
“All requirements and protocols in the Health Officer Order must be followed to interrupt potential transmission,” stated Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Let today serve as reminder how critical it is for employers to support their workers by following all safety measures, providing maximum protections, and allowing for eligible workers to get vaccinated.”
Public health officials don’t want the public to get lax with the county being in the red tier as it possibly approaches orange tier guidelines. COVID-19 and variants are still present and require businesses to adhere to workplace protocols that require infection control, occupancy limits, distancing, masking, and appropriate PPE that protect employees and customers. Businesses must make sure they’re no crowded spaces or places, to report outbreaks of three or more cases, and allow employees to work from home as much as possible, and to stay home if they’re feeling sick. Businesses must also complete and post safety protocols and maximize opportunities for customers or visitors to make use of services that minimize contact, such as contactless payment systems, curbside pick-up, and online purchases.
“As we celebrate today the legacy of César Chavez and his commitment to social justice and the labor movement, let us honor all of the county’s workforce, particularly our essential workers, by protecting them from COVID-19,” stated Ferrer. “Every time the virus is passed from one person to another, community transmission increases along with the possibility of proliferation of variants. Poor health outcomes and death from COVID-19 are disproportionally experienced by Black and Brown workers and residents.”
Non-compliance and dangerous conditions at businesses and worksites can be reported to Public Health by phone at 888-700-9995 or online at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov. These tips can be submitted anonymously.
For more information and statistics on COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, please visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/
For more detailed information on COVID-19 vaccination plans in L.A. County and to sign up for a vaccination newsletter, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com
