LISTING OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH PRESS RELEASES
News Release
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313 N. Figueroa Street, Room 806  |  Los Angeles, CA 90012  |  (213) 240-8144  |  media@ph.lacounty.gov

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For Immediate Release:

March 27, 2021

Traveling and Gathering for Spring Break or Religious/Spiritual Holidays Increases the Risk of Getting and Spreading COVID-19
Public Health Reports 23 New Deaths and 700 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

Today, Public Health has confirmed 23 new deaths and 700 new cases of confirmed COVID-19. In total, Public Health has identified 1,217,707 cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and 23,078 deaths.

As we approach spring break and numerous religious and spiritual holidays, it important to remember that travel and gathering in-person with others increases the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19. While COVID-19 numbers have decreased in L.A. County, transmission remains widespread and is increasing in many other states and countries.

The safest way to observe religious and spiritual holidays at this time is still to gather virtually or with people who live with you.

Los Angeles County residents should continue to avoid all non-essential travel and stay within 120 miles from their place of residence, unless they are traveling for essential purposes. A Travel Advisory remains in effect in Los Angeles County.

Anyone who is arriving in Los Angeles County from outside the state must self-quarantine for 10 days; travelers should remain at their home or lodging for the 10 days and avoid contact with others. People should get tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms, were in crowds, or were involved in any other activities that may have put them at risk for getting COVID-19.

“To the many people across our communities who are facing a time of sorrow without their loved ones who passed away from COVID-19, we are keeping you in our hearts and thoughts,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “We must remain diligent and continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. We are so close, perhaps only several months away from having enough people vaccinated to accelerate our reopening without adverse effects. However, we remain quite concerned with reports of rising cases of COVID and hospitalizations in a growing number of states. We know the virus does not respect borders. If we are able to hold the line here and prevent another wave of increasing infections, we will soon be able to realize the profound benefits of our mass vaccination efforts in reducing spread of the virus and, most importantly, preventing COVID hospitalizations and deaths.”

Since L.A. County is in the Red Tier of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, a private gathering can occur indoors with up to three separate households, with masking and distancing required at all times and limited to two hours. Outdoors is still safer than indoors. People who are fully vaccinated can gather indoors, without required masking and distancing, with either two other households of people who are fully vaccinated or with one other household of unvaccinated/partially vaccinated people, unless any of those people or anyone they live is at risk for serious illness from COVID-19.

People are considered fully vaccinated:

If it has been less than 2 weeks since your shot or you still need to get your second dose, you are NOT fully vaccinated.

Gatherings, even with people you know who have no symptoms and who have tested negative, can still result in spread of the virus to many people. The risk of spread increases when people are not diligent about consistently and correctly wearing face masks or keeping their physical distance and when people gather indoors. Of the 22 new deaths reported today, five people that passed away were over the age of 80, seven people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79 and 10 people that passed away were between the ages of 50 and 64. There was one death reported by the City of Long Beach. There are 676 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 25% of these people are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Testing results are available for more than 6,061,000 individuals with 19% of people testing positive.

L.A. County is working to ensure that eligible residents and workers in hard hit communities have increased access to vaccines. For information about who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in L.A. County, how to make an appointment if it is your turn, what verifications you will need to show at your vaccination appointment, and much more, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish) (Spanish). 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 1217707*

Deaths 23078

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 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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