COVID Precautions Can Allow for Safe Summer, Says County Health Director

Again rises in infections in unincorporated areas across Los Angeles County and in other County Health Dept. jurisdictions among school students and staff and an uptick in COVID-19 outbreaks at skilled nursing facilities, the county’s public health director Thursday continued to express confidence that with proper precautions, Southland residents can safely enjoy the summer months ahead.

“As we’re beginning our summer with a lot of uncertainty regarding the trajectory of the pandemic … I do remain hopeful, because we all have more knowledge, more experience and more tools than ever before that we can use to protect ourselves and those that are most vulnerable,” Barbara Ferrer said during an online briefing. “By layering in these common-sense safety measures that address the very real risk during times of high transmission, we can feel comfortable doing many of our customary summer activities.”

Ferrer again noted a continuing rise in the pace of COVID-positive patients being admitted to hospitals, but indicated the rate had slowed slightly. Last week, she estimated the county was on pace to reach the federal government’s “high” virus activity level by the end of the month based on rising admission rates. But this week, the estimate was pushed back to early July, with Ferrer noting a slight decline in the pace of admissions over the past two weeks.

However, the numbers are still rising, and if the county reaches the “high” virus level, the county will re-impose a mandatory indoor mask-wearing mandate.

As of Thursday, the county’s rate of new COVID hospital admissions was 6.4 per 100,000 residents, up from 5.2 a week ago. The portion of hospital beds in the county occupied by virus patients was 3.1% as of Thursday, up from 2.7% from a week ago.

The county will move from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s “medium” virus-activity category into the “high” category if its average daily rate of new COVID-related hospital admissions rises above 10 per 100,000 residents, or if the percentage of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID-positive patients tops 10%.

“I urge people, if you are testing positive, call your provider, call us, access that treatment opportunity if it’s right for you, because it will help keep you out of the hospital,” she said.