All health care facilities in Los Angeles County have reinstated mask mandates after a significant increase in respiratory illnesses.
The order is Increase in the number of people infected with the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) Officials said Saturday that it had led to hospitalizations and deaths.
The county officially ranks first in the world for coronavirus hospitalizations. CDC's “medium level” Friday, December 29th.
The agency's level is determined by data reflecting the number of new COVID-19 hospitalizations, the number of hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in the region.
“We're starting to see the effects of gathering over the holidays,” said Dr. Annie Rimoin, a professor of epidemiology at the Fielding School at the University of California, Los Angeles. is likely to be low.” public health. “And because the weather has been cold, people are congregating inside their homes.”
Licensed health care facilities subject to mask mandates include:
- General acute care hospital
- Specified nursing care facilities (including subacute facilities)
- Intermediate care facility
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Provider Agency
- Consolidate lifestyle and health facilities
- Chemical addiction recovery hospital
- acute psychiatric hospital
- dialysis center
- home medical agency
- primary care clinic
- Outpatient surgery center
- hospice facility
“During December 2023, the rate of new COVID-19 hospitalizations increased steadily toward CDC intermediate levels,” the county's directive states. “For the past eight months, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have remained at CDC low levels. This current increase is due to the greater impact of severe illness from COVID-19 on the community. It shows that.”
CDC's mid-level threshold is 10 to 19.9 new coronavirus hospitalizations per 100,000 people over a seven-day period.
Los Angeles County reported about 10.5 new coronavirus-related hospitalizations over the past week.
The mask mandate can only be lifted if a county's hospitalization level retreats to a lower threshold for at least 14 consecutive days.
As the triple pandemic hits families across Southern California, health officials say nearly one in four L.A. County residents became ill in December alone.
“This year, we have seen more influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and COVID-19 infections than any other year, and more than in previous years,” explained Dr. Ali Jamedour of Dignity Health.
Throughout the state, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention memo Levels of influenza-like illness, including non-influenza viruses such as coronaviruses, are considered high.
Health officials offer the following tips to protect yourself from the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and other respiratory viruses.
- If you are sick or have symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, sore throat, or fever, please stay home.
- Get tested immediately to see if you have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19, especially before visiting people who are vulnerable or immunocompromised.
- wash your hands frequently
- Wear a properly fitting, high-quality mask to prevent infection in crowded indoor spaces
Anyone with questions about influenza, RSV, or COVID-19, including where to get vaccinated and how and when to get tested for COVID-19, can contact Los Angeles County Public Health The information line is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. -833-540-0473.More information available online here or county Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) website.
