Public Health Says In-Person Super Bowl Parties Can Derail County Recovery

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health or Public Health has confirmed 256 new deaths and 5,189 new cases of COVID-19. To date, Public Health identified 1,129,503 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 17,308 deaths.

Public Health, Feb. 3, confirmed a third case of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, the variant discovered in the United Kingdom (U.K.). Presence of the B.1.1.7 variant in Los Angeles County means virus transmission can happen more easily, and residents and businesses must be more diligent at implementing and following all standard public health safety measures, including face coverings, distancing, and handwashing, put in place to prevent additional cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Public Health is reminding everyone of past tragic consequences of gatherings. In the weeks following every holiday, and many major sporting events, the county experienced increases in cases, and then hospitalizations and deaths. Public Health recommends residents enjoy the Super Bowl and cheer for their team from their home with those they live with. Residents should connect virtually with their friends and not gather with people from outside their household to watch the Super Bowl.

Of the 256 new deaths reported today, 69 people who passed away were over the age of 80, 92 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, 51 people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, 24 people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49.  Thirteen deaths were reported by the City of Long Beach and seven deaths were reported by the City of Pasadena.

Testing results are available for nearly 5,543,000 individuals with 19% of people testing positive. There are 5,165 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 27% of these people are in the ICU.  

Along with the majority of the State, Los Angeles County is in the most restrictive purple tier in the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. In order to move into the red tier and have additional opportunities for re-openings, L.A. County’s daily case rate must be at or below 7 new cases per 100,00 people and the county’s test positivity rate must be at or below 8%.  As of Jan. 23, L.A. County’s adjusted case rate is 38.7 new cases per 100,000 people and the test positivity rate is 11.3%. 

It is clear LA county has quite a way to go before transmission in the county is considered no longer widespread; hopefully, through following all the rules, good progress will be made to slow the spread and move into a less restrictive tier.