Report from LA – 7/8/20
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/coronavirus/
We had 4,000 new cases yesterday in our county of 10 million, part of that is a large backlog from a single big lab. We have 120,000 total diagnosed cases – i.e. 1.2% of the population has been diagnosed sick with Covid 19 – certainly an undercount of those actually infected.
We had 17,000 tests yesterday and the positivity rate was about 10%, dramatically up from 5% in mid-May. In all 1.2 million Los Angelenos have been tested or 12% of our population. The surge in positivity rates happened three weeks after the Memorial Day weekend and the re-opening of bars and restaurants.
46 people died from Covid 19 yesterday and 3,900 over all. Death rates are down from late April and early May. They are increasingly higher among Latinos and African Americans.
Hospitalizations are now back up to close to 2,000 (where they were in late April) and a big and fast increase from early June when there were about 1300 hospitalizations.
The biggest and fastest growing numbers of cases are for people ages 18-40. This is believed to be due to lack of mask wearing and social distancing as bars and restaurants reopened and close social contact at backyard BBQs and other social gatherings.
The deaths in homeless shelters, centers and encampments have been only 8, reflecting a big success in combating the spread there.
1487 deaths have happened in congregate living centers. The daily death rates from Covid 19 in nursing homes have fallen from about 25 a day to 10 a day – a marked improvement in infection controls in long term care.
So what happened? We were doing a very good job of containing the spread of the virus in our state. Once re-opening started, many of the young stopped wearing masks and stopped social distancing and started going back to bars and indoor dining. When we hiked, we saw many of the young without masks or social distancing, just enjoying each other’s close company after the long hibernation; we kept our distance. The message about re-opening safely with masks and with social distancing did not get through. Or maybe the President’s counter messaging of “no need for a mask; we’re done with this” is the message that did get through. Strangely enough, there is no evidence as yet that the very large protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death have led to any outbreaks out here. It may be that the fact the protests were outside and many participants wore masks averted a big spread. We’ll have to see.
My wife and I thought it would be a good idea to get tested since we are both of a certain age, making us high risk. When we tried to do so in the city and county facilities, it is not possible without either symptoms or a doctor’s referral. How can many essential workers and those with limited access to doctors even get in the door.
Recently I received in the mail a summons for jury service in a criminal case. I have been a juror several times before and enjoyed it, and I know it’s not at all safe in this time of pandemic. What are they thinking?
Our schools are reopening in late August, no telling as yet whether that will be in person or through distance learning or a hybrid. Speak Up’s surveys showed that poor kids in LA had little access to effective teaching in the LAUSD district schools throughout last spring due to the pandemic and schools’ closing. The Legislature has mandated a minimum of actual instruction in the coming year.
Best to all and stay safe. Lucien.