“Residents at skilled nursing facilities are often medically fragile and throughout this pandemic have been at great risk for serious illness and death from COVID-19.” Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health LA County

Channel 1 Los Angeles

8/4/2021

With the high level of COVID-19 spread occurring across the County and nation, we are now experiencing increases in cases among staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities. This is in part due to the highly transmissible Delta variant and a small number of post vaccination infection among those fully vaccinated. Currently, 86% of residents and 85% of staff at skilled nursing facilities are fully vaccinated. For the week ending July 18, 33 people tested positive for COVID-19: 6 new cases among residents, and 27 new cases among staff. For the previous weeks, an average of 22 new cases were reported among staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities.

Masks have consistently been required in all healthcare settings, including skilled nursing facilities, regardless of vaccination status. Routine testing of staff and residents is also required at skilled nursing facilities, and there are stringent infection control directives.

Thankfully, because of their high COVID-19 vaccination rates and infection control measures at facilities, we are not seeing dramatic increases in COVID-19 cases among staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities, nor have we seen significant increases in deaths.  In order to ensure a continued high level of protection during this surge, staff and residents not yet vaccinated should do so. And we ask everyone who plans to visit someone in a skilled nursing facility to mask up and be fully vaccinated to prevent transmission to very vulnerable residents.” 

Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated against COVID-19. Public Health encourages everyone who is not vaccinated and are eligible to get vaccinated, to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccinations are widely available throughout L.A. County and many sites are open on weekends and have evening hours. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 4, at 6:00 p.m., Public Health will host the Los Angeles County COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall on Schools. Join the town hall to get the latest updates on COVID-19 and school re-openings. The town hall will be streamed live on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube @lapublichealth. For more information and to submit a question, visit: TinyURL.com/LACSchoolsTownHall.