Ongoing COVID-19 Outbreaks Slightly Decrease in Non-School Settings

LOS ANGELES, Calif. Sept 8 – The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is currently investigating 258 ongoing outbreaks in non-school settings; this is a slight decrease from the 300 ongoing outbreak investigations in non-school settings reported a week ago on September 1. Of the outbreak investigations reported today, nearly 30% are related to outbreaks in non-healthcare and non-residential workplaces, 5% in healthcare settings and 65% in residential settings. Non-residential settings include workplaces, food and retail stores, and places of worship.

Public Health inspectors visit businesses across the county every day to ensure compliance with required safety measures and masking guidelines, provide technical assistance, and respond to complaints of non-compliance. Between August 28 and September 3, Public Health inspectors visited 901 restaurants, 13 bars, 229 food markets, 3 breweries, 32 hotels, 44 gyms and fitness centers, 122 hair salons or barber shops, 57 food manufacturing plants, 56 garment manufacturing plants, 239 personal care businesses, 21 retail stores, 10 warehouses, 21 office sites, 12 family entertainment venues and 6 large outdoor and indoor venues with a capacity for more than 10,000 people. Overall, the compliance inspections revealed that while the majority of businesses were in compliance, there is some room for improvement, particularly with employee and customer masking at fitness centers, bars, warehouses and garment manufacturing plants.  During this time period, seven citations were issued to businesses, including fitness centers and restaurants, for noncompliance with Health Officer Orders.

Today, Public Health confirms 49 new deaths and 2,006 new cases of COVID-19. The number of new cases reported today is an undercount due to missing test results from one lab. Of the 49 new deaths reported today, 10 people who passed away were over the age of 80, 13 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, 17 people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, and four people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49.  Three deaths were reported by the City of Long Beach and two deaths were reported by the City of Pasadena. To date, Public Health identified 1,423,620 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 25,514 deaths.  
  
There are 1,433 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 29% of these people are in the ICU. This is a decrease of 266 daily hospitalizations in one week.
 
Testing results are available for nearly 8,300,000 individuals with 16% of people testing positive. Today’s test positivity rate is 3.3%.

“We send our deepest condolences to everyone mourning a loved one who has passed away from COVID-19,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “We are grateful to all the businesses that are in compliance with safety measures and masking requirements, as these protections are critical to prevent virus transmission and COVID-19 outbreaks at businesses and in the community. While we are seeing decreases in new cases and hospitalizations, COVID-19 deaths have not declined and transmission remains high. Without a significant increase in the numbers of eligible residents vaccinated, there is a risk of case increases this fall and winter as COVID-19 is easily spread among those unvaccinated.”
 
Public Health encourages everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated against COVID-19. Many vaccination sites across the county, including all the County-run sites, are also offering third doses of vaccine to eligible immunocompromised people. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.