Los Angeles County Public Health officials on Friday confirmed 150 new deaths and 2,459 new cases of COVID-19 countywide, while Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia reported one new death bringing the total up to 138 deaths since the pandemic began.

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.

“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 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 Feb. 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%.

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.

“There are marked inequities in vaccination coverage across the county,” said Ferrer. “These inequities are unacceptable, and demand renewed efforts to ensure access to vaccines for people in the hardest-hit communities.”

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.

Public Health is 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 it only received an average of 230,000 doses per week over the past two weeks.

“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,” said Ferrer.

See more SCV and L.A. County info and a vaccine update later in this report.

California Friday Snapshot

Statewide, as of Thursday, Feb. 18, the California Department of Public Health officials confirmed 3,428,518 of COVID-19 cases (up 6,798) with 48,344 deaths from the disease (up 420) since the pandemic began.

There are 7,514 confirmed hospitalizations and 2,207 ICU hospitalizations in the state, continuing a downward trend.

As of Thursday, Feb. 18, local health departments have reported 92,654 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 386 deaths statewide.

There have been 46,621,654 tests conducted in California. This represents an increase of 117,399 during the prior 24-hour reporting period.

The 7-day positivity rate is 3.1% and the 14-day positivity rate is 3.8%., continuing a downward trend.

Numbers do not represent true day-over-day change as these results may include cases from prior to yesterday.

As of Friday, Feb. 19, providers have reported administering a total of 6,929,954 vaccine doses statewide. Numbers do not represent true day-to-day change as reporting may be delayed.

The CDC reports that 8,828,480 doses have been delivered to entities within the state, and 8,858,445 vaccine doses, which includes the first and second dose, have been shipped.

See more California information later in this report.

Screencap from the Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering COVID-19 dashboard, showing COVID deaths in the United States as of Friday afternoon, February 19, 2021.

U.S. Deaths Nearing Half a Million People; Global Cases Supass 110 Million People

Worldwide, 110,655,192 people have been infected by COVID-19 while 2,427,731 people have died of the virus as of 2:22 p.m. Friday Pacific Time, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

In the U.S., more than 27,961,870 Americans have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The number of people in the U.S. who have died due to the virus has now surpassed 495,469.

With 4.25% of the world’s population (328.2 million) and more than 20% of the confirmed COVID-19 cases, the U.S. also continues to lead the world in deaths.

By comparison, Brazil (population 209.5 million) is No. 2 in deaths with 244,737 — half of the U.S. total — and No. 3 in cases with 10,030,626. India (population 1.353 billion) is No. 2 in cases, with 10,963,394 confirmed infections and No. 4 in deaths with 156,111, behind No. 3 Mexico’s 178,108 deaths, as of Friday afternoon.

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Friday Update

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital reported an additional death Friday from COVID-19, bringing the total number to 138 to date, according to hospital spokesman Patrick Moody.

As of Friday, Feb. 19, one case was pending, 13 patients were hospitalized in dedicated COVID-19 units receiving ICU-level care, and a total of 1,129 patients had been treated and discharged, Moody said.

Henry Mayo releases complete statistics weekly, usually on Wednesdays, unless one or more new deaths occur.

Privacy laws prohibit Henry Mayo from releasing the community of residence for patients who die at the hospital; residence info is reported by the L.A. County Public Health COVID-19 dashboard, which generally lags 48 hours behind.

Santa Clarita Valley Friday Update

As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, the latest update of the L.A. County Public Health dashboard recorded 243 deaths among Santa Clarita Valley residents since the pandemic began, but did not include the most recent deaths reported by Henry Mayo.

Of the 246 SCV residents who have died, 209 lived in Santa Clarita, 13 in Castaic, seven in Acton, four in Stevenson Ranch, three in unincorporated Canyon Country, two in Agua Dulce, one in Newhall, one in unincorporated Bouquet Canyon, one in Lake Hughes, one in Val Verde, one in Valencia, and three in communities not yet named.

Of the 25,388 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported to Public Health for the SCV to date, the community breakdown is as follows:

* City of Santa Clarita: 18,543

* Castaic: 3,529 (incl. Pitchess Detention Center & North County Correctional Facility*)

* Stevenson Ranch: 1007

* Canyon Country (unincorporated portion): 756

* Acton: 425

* Val Verde: 300

* Agua Dulce: 246

* Valencia (unincorporated portion west of I-5): 171

* Saugus (unincorporated portion): 126

* Elizabeth Lake: 71

* Newhall (Unincorporated portion): 66

* Bouquet Canyon: 42

* Lake Hughes: 40

* Saugus/Canyon Country: 35

* Sand Canyon: 15

* San Francisquito/Bouquet Canyon: 14

*Note: The county is unable to break out separate numbers for Castaic and PDC/NCCF because the county uses geotagging software that cannot be changed at this time, according to officials. Click here for the LASD COVID-19 dashboard.

L.A. County Demographics — Cases by Age Group (excluding Long Beach and Pasadena)

* 0 to 4: 21971

* 5 to 11: 53281

* 12 to 17: 66728

* 18 to 29: 263854

* 30 to 49: 370715

* 50 to 64: 215087

* 65 to 79: 85808

* over 80: 31122

* Under Investigation 6811

L.A. County Demographics — Deaths by Age Group

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.

Vaccine & Vaccination Update

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.

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.

While COVID-19 vaccine supply remains very limited, Public Health continues to build an extensive network with pharmacies, federally qualified health centers, hospitals, health clinics, and community vaccination sites, including seven large-capacity sites:

* Dodger Stadium (operated by the city of Los Angeles)

* Six Flags Magic Mountain, 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia 91355

* California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge 91330

* Pomona Fairplex, 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona 91768

* The Forum, 3900 W Manchester Blvd, Inglewood 90305

* L.A. County Office of Education, 12830 Columbia Way, Downey 90242

* California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles 90032 (operated by FEMA)

The state is also transitioning the vaccination effort statewide to be coordinated by Blue Shield of California. During and after this transition, Public Health’s website, www.VaccinateLACounty.com and www.VaccunateLosAngeles.com, will remain a portal for the latest information about COVID-19 and the vaccine and link people to the statewide appointment registration system.

California Blueprint for a Safer Economy

Governor Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy imposes risk-based criteria on tightening and loosening COVID-19 allowable activities and expands the length of time between changes to assess how any movement affects the trajectory of the disease.

With the Regional Stay at Home Order rescinded statewide as of January 25, all counties are now under the rules and framework of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and color-coded tiers that indicate which activities and businesses are open based on local case rates and test positivity.

* 52 counties are currently in the Purple (widespread) Tier (including Los Angeles County)

* 3 counties are currently in the Red (substantial) Tier (Del Norte, Mariposa, Plumas)

* 3 counties are currently in the Orange (moderate) Tier (Alpine, Sierra, Trinity)

* No counties are in the Yellow Tier

Blueprint tiers are updated weekly on Tuesdays. Find the status of activities in specific counties.

Vaccinate All 58
In order to increase the pace of COVID-19 vaccine distribution to those at greatest risk, the state is prioritizing individuals 65 and older to receive the vaccine as demand subsides among health care workers. This effort will help to reduce hospitalizations and save lives.

To sign up for a notification when you’re eligible for a vaccine, visit myturn.ca.gov.

For more information on the vaccine effort, visit the Vaccinate All 58 webpage.

‘Safe Schools for All’ Plan
Governor Newsom launched the Safe Schools for All Hub as a one-stop-shop for information about safe in-person instruction.

For more information on the transparency, accountability, and assistance measures related to California’s Safe Schools for All plan, visit the hub.

Travel Advisory

California Public Health has issued an updated travel advisory. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

Non-essential travelers from other states or countries are strongly discouraged from entering California and should adhere to the state’s self-quarantine procedures for 10 days.

California Demographics: Health Equity Dashboard

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted existing inequities in health that are the result of structural racism and poverty, and the disproportionate prevalence of underlying conditions such as asthma and heart disease among Latinos and African Americans.

As part of its commitment to reduce health inequities and ensure the best outcomes for all Californians, the state has launched a Health Equity Dashboard on www.covid19.ca.gov/equity/ that tracks California’s health equity measure and data by race and ethnicity, age group, and sexual orientation/gender identity.

California Testing & Turnaround Time
More than 85 community testing sites offer free, confidential testing: Find a COVID-19 Testing Site.

The testing turnaround dashboard reports how long California patients are waiting for COVID-19 test results. California has worked to reduce testing turnaround times in recent weeks to help curb the spread of the virus.

During the week of January 31 to February 6, the average time patients waited for test results was 1.1 days. During this same time period, 77% of patients received test results in one day and 93% received them within two days. The testing turnaround time dashboard (PDF) is updated weekly.

All four tiers in the Testing Prioritization Guidance originally dated July 14, 2020, have equal priority for testing.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

Each week, the California Department of Public Health updates the number of cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) reported in the state.

As of February 15, 266 cases of MIS-C have been reported statewide. To protect patient confidentiality in counties with fewer than 11 cases, we are not providing total counts at this time.

MIS-C is a rare inflammatory condition associated with COVID-19 that can damage multiple organ systems. MIS-C can require hospitalization and be life-threatening. Parents should be aware of the signs and symptoms of MIS-C including fever that does not go away, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes, or feeling tired.

Contact your child’s doctor immediately if your child has these symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment of patients are critical to preventing long-term complications.

Protect Yourself and Your Family: Your Actions Save Lives

Protect yourself, family, friends, and community by following these prevention measures:

* Staying home except for essential needs/activities following local and state public health guidelines when patronizing approved businesses. To the extent that sectors are re-opened, Californians may leave their homes to work at, patronize, or otherwise engage with those businesses, establishments or activities.

* Avoiding non-essential travel, and practicing self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival if you leave the state.

* Keeping interactions to people who live in your household.

* Wearing a cloth face mask when out in public.

* Washing hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.

* Avoiding touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

* Covering a cough or sneeze with your sleeve or disposable tissue. Wash your hands afterward.

* Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

* Staying away from work, school, or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

* Getting tested if you believe you’ve been exposed. Free, confidential testing is available statewide.

* Getting vaccinated when it’s your turn.

* Adding your phone to the fight by signing up for COVID-19 exposure notifications from CA Notify.

* Answering the call if a contact tracer from the CA COVID Team or local health department tries to connect.

* Following guidance from public health officials.

What to Do if You Think You’re Sick

Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath), call your healthcare provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

It’s important if someone thinks they could be positive for COVID-19 and are awaiting testing results to stay at home and act as if they are positive. This means self-isolating for 10 days and 72 hours after symptoms and fever subside.

If a person tests positive for COVID-19, they should plan on receiving a call from a public health specialist to discuss how to protect themselves and others, find out where they may have been, and who they were in close contact with while infectious.

California COVID-19 Data and Tools

A wide range of data and analysis guides California’s response to COVID-19. The state is making the data and its analytical tools available to researchers, scientists and the public at covid19.ca.gov.

* The Statewide COVID-19 Dashboard

* The California COVID-19 Assessment Tool (CalCAT)

* State Cases and Deaths Associated with COVID-19 by Age Group

* COVID-19 Race & Ethnicity Data

* COVID-19 Hospital Data and Case Statistics

* View additional datasets at the California Open Data Portal (including Testing Data, PPE Logistics Data, Hospital Data, Homeless Impact and more)

Consolidated guidance is available on the California Department of Public Health’s Guidance webpage.

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Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus (COVID-19):

* Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

* California Department of Public Health

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

* Spanish

* World Health Organization

* Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Dashboard

L.A. County residents can also call 2-1-1.

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