February 16, 2022

Today, Public Health confirmed 102 additional deaths and 3,348 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 102 newly reported deaths, 58 had underlying health conditions. Today’s positivity rate is 3%. There are 1,835 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized.

LA County Surpasses 30,000 COVID-19 Deaths; Enters Post Surge as Hospitalizations Remain Below 2,500 for the Seventh Consecutive Day

Today, as Los Angeles County surpassed the grim milestone of losing more than 30,000 residents to COVID-19, Public Health is reporting an additional 102 additional daily deaths. While case and hospitalization numbers have declined significantly, sadly, many residents continue to lose their lives to this dangerous virus. Our hope is that as we drive case and hospitalization numbers lower, deaths will decline.

With hospitalizations under 2,500 for seven consecutive days, Public Health issued a modified LA County Health Officer Order today recommending, but no longer requiring, masking at outdoor mega events and outdoor spaces at K-12 schools and childcare centers. For the week ending February 13, the seven-day average of daily COVID hospital admissions decreased by 87 admissions from the prior week to 242 admissions this week, translating into a 26% decline in County hospital admissions. While the number of daily hospital admissions has continued to decrease, the number of hospitalized COVID patients in the ICU (21%) and those requiring ventilation (13%) has remained fairly stable compared to the previous week. Total hospital census for LA County hospitals also decreased to 13,971 as of February 14, crossing below the 14,000 mark for the first time since January 3.

While masking will no longer be required at outdoor Mega Events or in outdoor spaces at childcare facilities and K-12 schools, the masking requirement at indoor establishments will continue until:

LA County has seven consecutive days at or below Moderate Transmission (10-49.99 new cases/100,000 persons in the past seven days), AND

There are no emerging reports of significantly circulating new variants of concern that threaten vaccine effectiveness.

Per state regulations, indoor masking at K-12 schools, childcare facilities, youth settings, healthcare settings, correctional facilities, homeless and emergency shelters, and cooling centers is still currently required. The state will also provide an updated assessment on February 28 on appropriate safety considerations for schools.

Additionally, per federal regulations, masking when riding public transit and in transportation hubs is still required.

Employers must also continue to provide high quality and well-fitting masks to workers who are in close contact with others until transmission is lower. Vaccination verification will also continue at mega events and indoor sections of bars, lounges, nightclubs, wineries, breweries, and distilleries.

“While entering post-surge is welcoming news, we are all aware that post-surge does not mean the pandemic is over, or that transmission is low, or that there will not be additional unpredictable waves of surges in the future that will require integrated public health measures. Post surge acknowledges the consistent and welcomed declines from the surge peak and realigns our current public health response to meet current mitigation needs. We anticipate, that with continued steep declines in case numbers indicating much lower transmission, we will be able to safely lift indoor mask mandates in mid-March. Please continue to take sensible precautions that reduce exposures so that we don’t lose ground.”
– Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health

Residents are legally required to isolate themselves away from others if they test positive for COVID-19. Close contacts with symptoms and close contacts who are unvaccinated or not up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations need to follow quarantine requirements. For updated isolation and quarantine guidance, please visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.