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) 240-8144  |  media@ph.lacounty.gov

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For Immediate Release:

June 16, 2021

Los Angeles County Health Officer Order and Travel Guidelines Modified - 5 New Deaths and 226 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 5 new deaths and 226 new cases of COVID-19. Of the five new deaths reported today, two people that passed away were over the age of 80, one person who died was between the ages of 65 and 79, and one person who died was between the ages of 50 and 64. One death was reported by the City of Long Beach.

To date, Public Health identified 1,246,821 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,421 deaths. There are 216 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 23% of these people are in the ICU. Testing results are available for more than 6,917,000 individuals with 17% of people testing positive. Today's daily test positivity rate is 0.6%.

The L.A. County Health Officer Order was modified to align with the State on masking guidance, requirements for workplaces to adhere to Cal/OSHA standards, and sector-specific protocols that remain in place for indoor K-12 schools, day cares, camps, and high-risk congregate settings. Currently, Cal/OSHA standards continue to require distancing and masking for all employees.

Masks are not required for fully vaccinated people, except in the certain settings where masks are required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status including: public transit and in transportation hubs; indoors in K-12 schools, child care and other youth settings; healthcare settings, including long term care facilities; state and local correctional facilities and detention centers; and homeless shelters, emergency shelters, and cooling centers. People who are not fully vaccinated, including all children between the ages of 2 and 12, are required to wear masks at all indoor public settings and businesses including retail, restaurants, theatres, family entertainment centers, meetings, and state and local government offices serving the public.

Everyone can remove their masks outdoors, except people who are not fully vaccinated attending large outdoor events.

The County’s travel guidance was also modified and aligns with State and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on travel. Please do not travel if you are sick, you have a recent positive COVID-19 viral test result, or you are waiting for results of a COVID-19 viral test after being exposed to the virus. You could spread COVID-19 to others.

For more information on the County reopening including masking requirements, travel guidance, best practices, and remaining sector protocols, visit: ReopeningLACounty.com. "We send our deepest condolences to everyone mourning the loss of someone they love due to COVID-19," said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “As physical distancing requirements, capacity limits, and masking mandates are now relaxed, ensuring the safety of those who are not yet vaccinated is essential. Workplaces need to offer sensible precautions that reduce possible COVID-19 transmission. This can include providing unvaccinated employees with respirators and maintaining partitions to protect workers who otherwise would be in sustained close contact with others. Until we reach community immunity, public health safety measures including masking and distancing are the tools that can protect those not yet vaccinated.”

Public Health encourages everyone unvaccinated for COVID-19 to get vaccinated ahead of time to celebrate Independence Day safely. Receiving the one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine by June 20 allows for the two-week time period needed to be fully protected by July 4. If the Pfizer or Moderna two-dose vaccines are your preference, it is strongly recommended that you begin your two-dose series as soon as possible to have some limited protection before the July 4th holiday.

Through Thursday, June 17 at County-run vaccination sites, participating LA city and mobile sites, and St. John’s Well Child and Family Center sites, everyone 18 and older coming to get their first vaccine or who brings a first-time vaccine recipient with them to their second dose appointment, will have an opportunity to win a pair of season tickets to the 2021-2022 home season of the Clippers, the Rams, or the Chargers. Official rules and participating site locations are posted online on the Los Angeles County Vaccination Sweepstakes page. Winners will be contacted by phone and/or email.

To find a vaccination site near you, to make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish). If you don’t have internet access, can’t use a computer, or you’re over 65, you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home-visit if you are homebound. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

County Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, Recovery Dashboard, and additional actions you can take 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 1246821*

Deaths 24421

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. 24 cases 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.

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.


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