The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed Friday 16 additional deaths, 1,167 new positive cases countywide, with 34 new cases in the Santa Clarita Valley.

This new data brings Los Angeles County death totals to 31,683, county case totals to 2,834,317 and Santa Clarita Valley case totals to 72,321 since March of 2020.

Of the 16 new deaths reported today, three people were between the ages of 50-64, five were between the ages of 65-79, and eight were aged 80 years or older. Of the 16 newly reported deaths, 11 people had underlying health conditions.

Today’s positivity rate is 0.9%.

There are 287 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 11,697,100 individuals, with 22% of people testing positive.

As Cases No Longer Decline, Wastewater Surveillance Critical

With the number of new cases no longer declining, Public Health continues monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in several wastewater samples to help foreshadow sustained increases or decreases in transmission. Wastewater surveillance is a community-level approach that monitors disease patterns using biomarkers excreted in human urine and feces and collected in sewers which can identify the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus shed by both symptomatic and asymptomatic people. Because this surveillance can detect increases in the presence of the virus across large geographic areas, the COVID-19 wastewater signal may be a leading indicator that precedes trends in confirmed cases and hospitalizations.

Wastewater collection and testing are being conducted at least three times per week, by three agencies across the County: LA City Sanitation and Environment, LA County Sanitation Districts, and the Las Virgenes Municipal Water Districts.

Recent data from the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, which covers the areas of South, Southeast and East Los Angeles, does not show, as of March 16, a significant concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater for this area.

A second agency, the Los Angeles City Sanitation and Environment Agency, which covers portions of central LA County, parts of the San Fernando Valley, and West Los Angeles, showed small increases in the concentration of virus the first two weeks of March, which will need close monitoring over the next couple of weeks to determine if this is the beginning of an upward trend.

A third wastewater source is from the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District in the West San Fernando Valley. This surveillance data also shows a small uptick in virus concentration in mid-March. However, the increase is too small to make definitive conclusions about whether these communities are also beginning to see more virus transmission.

“For everyone mourning the loss of a loved one from COVID-19, we extend our deepest sympathies,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Our Early Alert Signals help us identify areas of concern early on so that we can realign our strategies in order to slow COVID-19 transmission or prevent or contain outbreaks. With multiple metrics reviewed each week, including concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, it is much easier to take appropriate actions to both try and prevent stress on the healthcare system and the tragic consequences associated with severe illness.”

A wide range of data and dashboards on COVID-19 from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health are available on the Public Health website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

To keep workplaces and schools open, residents and workers are asked to:

– Get tested to help reduce the spread, especially if you traveled for the holidays, have had a possible exposure, or have symptoms, or are gathering with people not in your household

– Adhere to masking requirements when indoors or at crowded outdoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status

– Residents are legally required to be isolated if they have a positive COVID test result and vaccinated close contacts with symptoms and unvaccinated close contacts need to be quarantined.

For information on where you can get tested, please visit www.covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/.

For updated isolation and quarantine guidance, please visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and are recommended for everyone 5 years old and older to help protect against COVID-19. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status. Appointments are not needed at all Public Health vaccination sites and many community sites where first, second, and third doses are available.

To find a vaccination site near you, or to make an appointment, please visit:

www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) or

www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish).

William S. Hart Union High School District COVID-19 Dashboard

The William S. Hart Union High School District provides ongoing information to our community regarding COVID-19 cases while maintaining confidentiality for our students and staff. The COVID-19 case data below is updated regularly to indicate any currently confirmed COVID-19 positive case in staff members or students by school site. The data below is specific to individuals who have been physically present on a District campus within 14 days of receiving a positive COVID-19 test. The District, in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, conducts contact tracing and directly notifies and provides resources for parents of students identified as close contacts (6 feet or less for 15 cumulative minutes or more).

Note: To see the communication process in the event of a positive COVID-19 case,

Student Dashboard

Staff Dashboard

Santa Clarita Valley Friday Update
As of 4:30 p.m. Friday, the L.A. County Public Health dashboard reported no additional deaths from COVID-19 in the Santa Clarita Valley, leaving the total in the SCV since the onset of the pandemic at 462.

The following is the community breakdown per L.A. County’s dashboard:

Santa Clarita: 377

Castaic: 28

Acton: 17

Stevenson Ranch: 15

Unincorporated Canyon Country: 9 (revised from 10)

Agua Dulce: 6

Val Verde: 3 (revised from 4)

Valencia: 2

Unincorporated Bouquet Canyon: 2

Elizabeth Lake: 1

Newhall: 1

unincorporated Saugus/Canyon Country: 1

Lake Hughes: 0 (**revised from 1)

SCV Cases

Of the 72,321 cases reported to Public Health for the SCV to date, the community breakdown is as follows:

Santa Clarita: 53,737

Castaic: 7,102

Stevenson Ranch: 4,017

Canyon Country (unincorporated portion): 2,587

Acton: 1,513

Val Verde: 831

Agua Dulce: 779

Valencia (unincorporated portion west of I-5): 671

Saugus (unincorporated portion): 310

Elizabeth Lake: 205

Bouquet Canyon: 149

Lake Hughes: 147

Saugus/Canyon Country: 89

Newhall (Unincorporated portion): 87

Sand Canyon: 48

San Francisquito/Bouquet Canyon: 34

Placerita Canyon: 15

*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.

California Friday

Statewide COVID-19 Data

Vaccinations

– 72,844,876 total vaccines administered.

– 83.9% of the eligible population (5+) has been vaccinated with at least one dose.

– 24,607 people a day are receiving COVID-19 vaccination (average daily dose count over 7 days).

Cases

– California has 8,494,005 confirmed cases to date.

– Wednesday’s average case count is 2,022  (average daily case count over 7 days).

– Unvaccinated people are 4.2 times more likely to get COVID-19 than boosted individuals (March 7 2022 – March 13, 2022).

Testing

– The testing positivity rate is 1.6% (average rate over 7 days).

Hospitalizations

– There are 1,270 hospitalizations statewide.

– There are 220 ICU patients statewide.

– Unvaccinated people are 8.0 times more likely to be hospitalized than boosted individuals (March 7 2022 – March 13, 2022).

Deaths

– There have been 88,207 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

– COVID-19 claims the lives of 47 Californians each day (average daily death count over 7 days).

– Unvaccinated people are 11.0 times more likely to die than boosted individuals (Feb. 28, 2022 – March 6, 2022).

Health Care Workers

Note: As of March 31, local health departments have reported 153,962 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 576 deaths statewide.

Testing Turnaround Time

The testing turnaround time dashboard reports how long California patients are waiting for COVID-19 test results. During the week of March 20 to March 26, the average time patients waited for test results was 0.7 day. During this same time period, 93% of patients received test results in one day and 98% received them within two days.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

As of March 28, there have been 910 cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) reported statewide. 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.

Additional Updates

Mask Guidance: Under California’s mask guidance, universal masking is required only in specified higher risk settings like hospitals, public transit and congregate living facilities. Unvaccinated persons are required to mask in all indoor public settings. Fully vaccinated individuals are recommended to continue indoor masking when the risk may be high. Workplaces will continue to follow the COVID-19 prevention standards set by CalOSHA. Local health jurisdictions may implement requirements that are stricter than state guidance.

Slow the Spread: Get Vaccinated and Boosted for COVID-19

The risk for COVID-19 exposure and infection continues as a number of Californians remain unvaccinated and unboosted.

Real-world evidence continues to show that the vaccine is preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Public health officials urge Californians to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.

It is recommended that every vaccinated person 12 years or older should get a booster as long as they received their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least five months ago or they received their Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.

Vaccination appointments can be made by visiting myturn.ca.gov or calling 1-833-422-4255. The consent of a parent or legal guardian may be needed for those under age 18 to receive a vaccination. Visit Vaccinate All 58 to learn more about the safe and effective vaccines available for all Californians 5+.

Your Actions Save Lives

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

Keep California Healthy
Protect yourself, family, friends and your community by following these prevention measures:

– Get vaccinated when it’s your turn. Californians age 16+ are eligible to make an appointment.

– If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches), call your health care provider.

– If you believe you have been exposed, get tested. Free, confidential testing is available statewide.

– Keep gatherings small and outdoors and follow state and local public health guidance.

– Wear a mask and get the most out of masking – an effective mask has both good fit and good filtration.

– Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

– Delay non-essential travel outside of California until you are fully vaccinated. Follow California’s travel advisory.

– Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home from work and school if you feel ill.

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

– Answer the call or text if a contact tracer from the CA COVID Team or your local health department tries to connect.

Additional data and udpates:

Tracking COVID-19 in California

State Dashboard – Daily COVID-19 data

County Map – Local data, including tier status and ICU capacity

Data and Tools – Models and dashboards for researchers, scientists, and the public

Blueprint for a Safer Economy– Data for establishing tier status

COVID-19 Race & Ethnicity Data – Weekly updated Race & Ethnicity data

Cases and Deaths by Age Group – Weekly updated Deaths by Age Group data

Health Equity Dashboard – See how COVID-19 highlights existing inequities in health

Tracking Variants – Data on the variants California is currently monitoring

Safe Schools for All Hub – Information about safe in-person instruction

School Districts Reopening Map – data on public schools and reported outbreaks

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

– Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

– California Department of Public Health

– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

– Spanish

– World Health Organization

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

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 health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken. More than 85 community testing sites also offer free, confidential testing: Find a COVID-19 Testing Site.

For more information about what Californians can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19, visit Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California.

California continues to issue guidance on preparing and protecting California from COVID-19. Consolidated guidance is available on the California Department of Public Health’s Guidance webpage.