Despite a slight rise in a COVID-19 related illness in children, L.A. County slowly enter the less restrictive tier.
As of Monday, May 3, the L.A. County Dept. of Public Health confirmed no new deaths and 255 new cases of COVID-19. There were 390 people with symptoms of COVID-19 hospitalized with 18% testing positive.
“We extend our love and prayers to everyone who has lost loved ones during this tragedy and are hopeful that deaths continue to remain very low in the weeks ahead,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Our ability to maintain low numbers of cases, and correspondingly low numbers of hospitalizations and deaths, can be attributed in large part to the increased number of people vaccinated.” hospitalized
Los Angeles County has remained in the orange tier operating at 50% indoor capacity in key sectors and edging into the yellow tier, which is the least restrictive. Mobile vaccinations and other locations continue to distribute vaccines. There’s been a slight rise in the COVID-19 related illness in youth since its peak in mid-December.
Public Health identified 1,233,985 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 23,914 deaths. Cases across the Southland: Los Angeles County shows 1,169,805 cases, Long Beach with 52,956 cases and Pasadena with 11,224.
According to race and ethnicity, COVID-19 statistics show: American Indian/Alaska Native with 1,984; Asian with 55,597; Black with 45,295; Hispanic/Latino with 614,650; Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander with 4,170; White with 127,413; those of other race and ethnicity with 101,614 and 219,082 under investigation.
As of this week, there were 739 sites offering vaccines that include hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and schools. Many of these sites have become active in hard hit communities. Anyone can obtain vaccines at the 8 county run sites, and many of the community sites without an appointment. There are also 126 mobile units offering vaccines in communities to those who may not be able to reach certain sites. In early April, Pfizer submitted a request to the Food and Drug Administration to approve its vaccine for ages 12-to-15-year-olds.
COVID-19 infections have caused multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) during the pandemic. Most youth survived MIS-C but there have been 36 deaths from MIS-C nationally among 3,185 cases reported. To date, Public Health has confirmed 180 children with MIS-C including two child deaths in L.A. County. Out of the children with MIS-C, 74% of MIS-C cases occurred in Latinx children with the other cases evenly divided between Black/African American and White children. Protecting children from infection and complications, especially those not eligible for vaccinations, remains a high priority as we head into the summer months.
“There will be a time in the not-distant future when many of our children will be eligible for the vaccine,” said Ferrer. “While we are all reminded daily about the powerful vaccines now available, for our children and others not yet vaccinated, masking is an essential tool in our effort to keep transmission rates low. Even if all the adult members of your family are vaccinated, mask together with your children as much as possible, specifically when at indoor gatherings or while in crowded outdoor places; this sets a good example making it easy for them to follow your lead.”
Public Health is committed on ensuring an equitable distribution of vaccines and ensuring eligible residents and workers in hard hit communities have increased access to vaccines. Visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish) to learn how to make an appointment at vaccination sites, what verifications people will need to show at your vaccination appointment, and much more. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.
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
