Covid 19 in LA (1/14/21)
Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all increasing, but at slower but very high levels. http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/coronavirus/data/index.htm The death rates for Latinos are about three times as high as for whites, but death rates for all demographic groups are going up. The testing positivity rate is up over 18%. The hospitals are overwhelmed with sick people, and ambulances cannot get their patients into care in the ERs.
Vaccinations are very slow to roll out, and no one can get reliable information. http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/vaccine/index.htm Yesterday, the Governor said all people over 65 can get the vaccines, but no one understands how to do so, and LA County just said they are not ready to do so because they have not completed vaccinations for health care workers. http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/vaccine/index.htm When I e-mailed my doctor and health plan, they replied that they’d get back to me – no response. One pharmacy chain opened its web site for appointments; we learned by word of mouth; it was deluged and the web site kept going down. I do have an appointment for a month from now; friends secured an appointment for today; others two weeks from now. We’ll see how that works.
I took a long 12 mile walk last week; there are very few people on the streets and most businesses are shuttered. It’s a bit like the shut downs after earthquakes, riots or the financial meltdown of 2008.
On the brighter side, Trump has been impeached and has less than a week left in office. We’ll see whether the Biden team can quickly turn things around.
We’ll see whether law enforcement is better prepared to stop the domestic right wing extremists threatening our nation over the next two weeks.
Love and safety to all,
Lucien
PS: Apparently, HHS Secretary Azar told all the states they could open up to all seniors over 65 at the same time the federal cupboards were bare — i.e. no more vaccines to distribute to the states. That in no way excuses LA County for its super slow motion roll-out; it appears that only 1/3rd of health care workers have been immunized in LA.