Protecting Workers and the Elderly Remains Everyone’s Responsibility as Transmission Remains High

With increases in the number of cases, hospitalizations, outbreaks at worksites, and the test positivity rate, Public Health encourages everyone to layer in additional protections to safeguard those most vulnerable, especially workers and the elderly.

Cases continue to increase in LA County, as the average number of daily new cases reported over the last seven days increased to 4,442 from one month ago when the number reported was 1,935 – an increase of 130%.

The seven-day average test positivity rate also increased when compared to one month ago. The rate today is 4%, more than double from what it was one month ago on April 30 when the seven-day average test positivity rate was 1.8%.

While hospitalizations remain relatively modest, higher case numbers have translated to an increase in the number of people hospitalized. Over the last seven days, the average number of COVID-19-positive patients per day in LA County hospitals was 452, an increase of 92% from one month ago when the average number of COVID-positive patients per day was 236.

Older adults are substantially more likely to require hospitalization than younger individuals and the number of older adults requiring hospitalization has increased significantly with this latest surge in cases. On April 23, the COVID hospitalization rate for residents 80 years old and older was 37 per 100,000 people. One month later, on May 23, the hospitalization rate for residents 80 years old and older was 67 per 100,000 people, an 82% increase.

With high rates of transmission, outbreaks across many sectors are also increasing. One month ago, for the two-week period ending May 2, there were 14 outbreaks opened at skilled nursing facilities, 15 outbreaks opened among people experiencing homelessness, and 40 outbreaks opened at worksites. For the two-week period ending May 30, there were 35 outbreaks opened at skilled nursing facilities (150% increase), 32 outbreaks opened among people experiencing homelessness (113% increase), and 62 outbreaks opened at worksites (55% increase). Outbreaks at schools remained high with 28 outbreaks opened during the two-week period ending May 30.  

And while many of those infected experience mild or moderate illness, the risk is not equally distributed. Older people and those with chronic health conditions remain at higher risk, even if vaccinated. With the most infectious variants to date circulating across LA County, reducing possible exposures makes a difference, particularly for those working at jobs that put them in close contact with many other workers and customers during the course of the day.

Public Health May 31, reported four additional deaths and 2,151 new positive cases today. The lower number of cases and deaths likely reflect reporting delays over the holiday weekend. Of the four new deaths reported today, two were between the ages of 65-79 and two were aged 80 years or older. Of the 4 newly reported deaths, all had underlying health conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 32,133.

Public Health has reported a total of 2,976,323 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today’s positivity rate is 4.0%.

There are 479 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 12,017,244 individuals, with 22% of people testing positive.

Details: http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov including: