The Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health (Public Health) announced that Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) would need to limit campus activities in the near term, as community transmission rates remain high. These higher rates are driven, in part, by younger people between 18 and 30 years old who currently account for 25% to 30% of new infections.

Colleges and universities in Los Angeles County may continue their essential operations, but most academic instruction must continue to be done via distance learning. Institutions may continue to offer in-person training and instruction only for students who are or will become part of the essential workforce and only for required activities that cannot be accomplished through virtual learning. All other academic instruction must continue to be done via distance learning. Faculty and other staff may come to campus for the purpose of providing distance learning, and other activities related to the purposes above, as well as maintaining minimum basic operations.

Colleges and universities should limit their on-campus student residency to only providing housing for students who have no alternative housing options.

Collegiate sports may only proceed in compliance with all the California Dept. of Public Health Specific Interim Guidance for Collegiate Athletics.

Today, Wednesday, Aug. 12, Public Health confirmed 58 new deaths and 2,428 new cases of COVID-19. Of the new cases reported by Public Health today (excluding Long Beach and Pasadena), 71% occurred in people under the age of 50 years old. 

The number of new cases reported today includes about 700 backlog cases from the state. It is anticipated that additional backlog cases will be received later this week. Data sources that track other key indicators, including hospitalizations and deaths, are not affected by this reporting issue.

There are 1,538 confirmed cases currently hospitalized and 32% of these people are confirmed cases in the ICU. Between March and July, adults ranging in age from 30 to 65 years old have made up the majority of hospitalized cases, with people in these age groups accounting for about 50% of all hospitalized cases.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have suffered the loss of someone they love to COVID-19. As the number of deaths continue to rise, we join with others across the County to offer our heartfelt condolences,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, director of Public Health. “I know that our decision to delay fully re-opening colleges and universities is disheartening news for our students who were looking forward to life on campus. But this postponement means that we will continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and get to the point where we can return to campus when rates of community transmission are lower. Colleges and universities are an important driver of innovation, cultural vibrancy and economic activity in the County. At the same time, the very nature of the way that colleges and universities operate creates a significant risk of outbreaks of COVID-19 among students, faculty and staff. And these risks extend beyond campus into the broader community. That is why we have made the difficult, but necessary, decision to limit the reopening of these important institutions.”

To date, Public Health has identified 214,197 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, and a total of 5,109 deaths.

Public Health continues to monitor and support skilled nursing facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Health surveyed all 340 skilled nursing facilities in the County on their compliance with mandated COVID-19 testing and all facilities responded. A total of 14,100 nursing home residents were tested this past week and 2.8% were positive. A total of 22,166 staff was tested and 1.7% was positive. These rates are considerably lower than rates of cases seen earlier in May and June and shows that these facilities are doing their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect our vulnerable elders.

Inequities are also tracked by race and ethnicity of individuals that have tragically passed away due to COVID-19 while either living or working at a skilled nursing facility.

Of the 58 new deaths reported today, 19 people who passed away (excluding Long Beach and Pasadena) were over the age of 80, 24 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, 11 people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, and three people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49. Forty-five people had underlying health conditions including 16 people over the age of 80, 17 people between the ages of 65 and 79, nine people between the ages of 50 and 64, and three people between the ages of 30 and 49. One death was reported by the City of Long Beach.

The City of Glendale reports 2,672 cases, La Cañada Flintridge reports 137 cases, Sunland reports 363 cases, Tujunga reports 330 cases, and the incorporated portion of LA County La Crescenta/Montrose reports 127 cases.

Ninety-two percent of the people who died from COVID-19 had underlying health conditions. Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 4,801 people (99% of the cases reported by Public Health. Upon further investigation, 39 cases and six deaths reported earlier were not LA County residents.

Testing results are available for more than 1,984,000 individuals with 10% of all people testing positive.

The State ELR problems have resulted in under-counting, affecting the number of COVID-19 cases reported each day and contact tracing efforts. Given the ELR delays, the department urges any person with a positive lab result to call (833) 540-0473 to connect with a public health specialist who can provide information about services and support. Residents who do not have COVID-19 should continue to call 211 for resources or more information.

The Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, Recovery Dashboard, and additional things the community can do to protect itself and families and the public are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.