LISTING OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH PRESS RELEASES
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313 N. Figueroa Street, Room 806  |  Los Angeles, CA 90012  |  (213) 288-8144  |  media@ph.lacounty.gov

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For Immediate Release:

March 16, 2021

Los Angeles County Continues to Make Progress with Metric Thresholds - 52 New Deaths and 318 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 52 new deaths and 318 new cases of COVID-19. To date, Public Health identified 1,210,905 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 22,519 deaths.

There are 865 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 28% of these people are in the ICU. Testing results are available for more than 5,962,000 individuals with 19% of people testing positive. Today's daily test positivity rate is 1.8%.

Los Angeles County recently moved to the red tier in the State's Blueprint for a Safer Economy that allowed the County to reopen several key sectors yesterday including, on-site learning for students in grades 7 through 12, museums, indoor dinning at restaurants, gyms, and movie theaters with required safety measures in place including masking and distancing requirements. The County must remain in the red tier for three consecutive weeks before moving to the less restrictive orange tier even if the County's metrics align earlier with the orange tier. L.A. County’s daily case rate must be at or below 3.9 new cases per 100,000 people and the County's test positivity rate must be at or below 4.9% for two consecutive weeks to qualify for the orange tier.

Today, the State released updated numbers; L.A. County's adjusted case rate dropped from 5.2 new cases per 100,000 people to 4.1 new cases per 100,000 people. The test positivity rate dropped from 2.5% to 2.0%. If we continue to experience declines in the case rate, it is possible in early April for the County to move into the orange tier.

Of the 52 new deaths reported today, 16 people that passed away were over the age of 80, 21 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, 13 people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, and two people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49.

“To everyone experiencing the sorrow of losing a loved one to COVID-19, I extend my deepest sympathies to all of you," said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. "Los Angeles County continues to make significant progress slowing transmission. Should our case numbers continue to decline, our recovery journey could land us in the less restrictive orange tier in April. This is only possible if we all do our part to keep each other safe. I believe that as more people are vaccinated and as we continue to follow public health safety measures, we can continue re-openings without threatening each other's health."

Public Health tracks outbreaks at worksites and assists sectors with required business protocol compliance and safety measures. The number of outbreak investigations in Los Angeles continues to decline. There are currently 385 ongoing outbreak investigations; this is a significant reduction from the 1,130 outbreak investigations reported on February 16.

With significant potential for transmission of COVID-19 at worksites, it remains important that businesses adhere to workplace protocols that require infection control, distancing, masking, and appropriate PPE that protect employees, customers and residents from COVID-19 as much as possible.

At hundreds of vaccination sites across the county, including pharmacies and community clinics, appointments are open to L.A. County residents or workers meeting the eligibility requirements. Visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish) for more information on who is eligible, how to make an appointment if it is your turn, and what verifications you will need when you show up for your vaccine. As a reminder, vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

County Reopening Protocols, 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 1210905*

Deaths 22519

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. 69 cases and 8 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.




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