LISTING OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH PRESS RELEASES
News Release
Los Angeles County Public Health Logo

313 N. Figueroa Street, Room 806  |  Los Angeles, CA 90012  |  (213) 288-8144  |  media@ph.lacounty.gov

twitter logo instagram logo facebook logo youtube logo Spotify logo

For Immediate Release:

February 19, 2021

Public Health Continues Work to Address Vaccination Inequities 150 New Deaths and 2,459 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 150 new deaths and 2,459 new cases of COVID-19. To date, Public Health identified 1,176,772 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 19,662 deaths.

Of the 150 new deaths reported today, 43 people who passed away were over the age of 80, 54 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, 29 people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, 12 people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49, and one death is under investigation. Ten deaths were reported by the City of Long Beach and one death was reported by the City of Pasadena.

There are 2,640 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 31% of these people are in the ICU. Daily hospitalizations decreased by nearly 1,000 patients in a week. A week ago, on February 12, there were 3,604 people with COVID-19 hospitalized.

Testing results are available for nearly 5,740,000 individuals with 19% of people testing positive. Today's daily test positivity rate is 4.5%.

“We wish healing and peace to everyone grieving the loss of a loved one to COVD-19,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. "There are marked inequities in vaccination coverage across the county. These inequities are unacceptable, and demand renewed efforts to ensure access to vaccines for people in the hardest-hit communities. We are further engaging our community partners to identify additional strategies and resources to ensure a more equitable distribution of vaccines that quickly improves vaccination rates across Black, Brown, and Native communities."

This week, the County received 262,925 doses of COVID-19 vaccine in L.A. County for a total of 1,831,075. To date, nearly 1,677,000 doses of vaccine have been administered across the county. Of those vaccinated, 471,162 people have received second doses.

The rate of vaccination among White and Asian residents in L.A. County continues to be significantly higher than that among Black/African American and Latino/Latinx residents. Black/African Americans have received 5.2% of vaccinations administered to date, while accounting for 9% of the 16 and older population. Latinx residents received 23% of vaccinations, while accounting 46% of the 16 and older population.

People 65 and older account for more than 50% of those vaccinated to date. Females account for 59%, while males account for 41%. Among people 65 and older, 42.5% have been vaccinated. Twenty-four percent of Black/African Americans 65 and older, 29% of Latino/Latinx 65 and older, and 32% American Indian/Alaska Native residents 65 and older have been vaccinated compared to 39% of Asians 65 and older, and 43% of White residents 65 and older.

Public Health is committed to increase access to the vaccine. We are expanding mobile vaccination units to better serve the needs of seniors and others who have limited mobility. We are mobilizing community health workers with information in multiple languages on available vaccination services to provide assistance to local residents in underserved communities for scheduling appointments and accessing vaccination services. Nearly 400 sites in L.A. County are administering the vaccines, including federally qualified health clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, and large capacity vaccination sites. Together the County had the capacity to administer 500,000 -600,000 doses this week, although we only received an average of 230,000 doses per week over the past two weeks.

At this time, vaccination continues to be only open to healthcare workers, residents and staff at long-term care facilities, and people who are age 65 or older which account for approximately 2.2 million people in L.A. County. Those eligible for the vaccine will continue to be eligible if they’ve not yet been vaccinated. Three additional sectors become eligible for vaccine starting on March 1; education and childcare, food and agriculture, and first responders and law enforcement. The County is working with partners to offer multiple opportunities for vaccinating the more than 1.8 million workers that will be eligible for vaccine beginning March 1.

COVID-19 vaccine supply continues to be very limited. For information about vaccine appointments in L.A. County, when your turn is coming up, to sign up for a vaccination newsletter, and much more, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish).

The Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, Recovery Dashboard, and additional things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

Please see additional information below:

Laboratory Confirmed Total Cases 1176772*

Deaths 19662

Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

Hospitalization

Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

CITY / COMMUNITY** Cases (Case Rate)

These numbers are subject to change based on further investigation. 27 cases and 2 deaths previously reported were not in Public Health's jurisdiction. * Means that case numbers include cases associated with correctional facility outbreaks located in the city/community. **Rate is crude and is per 100,000. This represents the number of cases per 100,000 people and allows for the proportional comparison of cities of different sizes.

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

The Department of Public Health is committed to promoting health equity and ensuring optimal health and well-being for all 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health comprises nearly 4,500 employees and has an annual budget of $1.2 billion. To learn more about Los Angeles County Public Health, please visit www.publichealth .lacounty.gov, and follow LA County Public Health on social media at twitter.com/lacounty.gov, and follow LA County Public Health on social media at twitter.com/lapublichealth, facebook.com/lapublichealth, instagram.com/lapublichealth and youtube.com/lapublichealth.


#####