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Friday, March 5, 2021
Theme parks will be allowed to reopen as early as April 1, with capacity limits based on the county’s ranking in California’s tiered reopening plan.
Public health officials confirmed 2,110 new cases of COVID-19 and 144 new deaths in L.A. County Friday. So far, the county Department of Public Health has identified 1,200,120 infections and 21,910 deaths related to the coronavirus. There are 1,341 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19, with 32% receiving intensive care. — Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
California administered its 10 millionth COVID-19 vaccine Friday, according to state officials. To date, nearly 77% of the 13.1 million doses sent to public health departments and medical providers have been given out. “The light at the end of the tunnel keeps getting brighter and brighter,” Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted. — Los Angeles Times
A new city-run vaccination site is scheduled to open at USC’s University Park campus Tuesday. According to Mayor Eric Garcetti, the site will be able to administer thousands of doses a day once fully operational and will also send mobile clinics to areas hardest hit by the pandemic. The mayor also said the city will start sending teams to vaccinate seniors who are unable to leave their homes, with the goal of vaccinating 300 next week. — KTLA
With a goal of administering 500 doses in one day, the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles will host a vaccination clinic Sunday, March 7, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are required, as is proof of eligibility, which includes official identification and, for people under 65, proof of employment in an eligible sector. The COVID-19 vaccine is free for all people, regardless of their immigration status. — NBC Los Angeles
Theme parks and outdoor sports and live performances will be allowed to reopen as early as April 1, with capacity limits based on the county’s ranking in California’s tiered reopening plan. Theme parks will be allowed to reopen at 15% capacity when the county moves into the less restrictive red tier, which Orange County — home to Disneyland — is expected to enter on March 17. — Patch
Thursday, March 4, 2021
California to Allocate 40% of Vaccine Doses to High-Risk Communities
The state’s new plan would see more vaccine doses distributed across 400 ZIP codes, where roughly 8 million people are eligible to receive a shot.
Los Angeles County health officials confirmed 2,253 new cases of COVID-19 and 119 new deaths Thursday. There are 1,401 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 across the county, and 32% of them are receiving intensive care. — Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
California will dedicate 40% of all vaccine doses for its most vulnerable neighborhoods, spanning 400 ZIP codes where approximately 8 million people are eligible to receive a shot, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday. Many of the neighborhoods are located in Los Angeles County and the central valley. Officials looked at metrics like household income, education level, and access to health care to determine which areas the state needed to focus its resources toward. — The Associated Press
A new COVID-19 vaccination site opened at the East L.A. Civic Center, and officials say systems are in place to make sure shots go to locals only. The walk-up site will be able to vaccinate 2,000 people per week Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Anyone who would like to make an appointment can call (323) 541-1411. — ABC Los Angeles
Four orangutans and five bonobos at the San Diego Zoo became the first non-human primates to receive an experimental COVID-19 vaccine, according to zoo officials. A gorilla and three more bonobos are next in line since these species — along with chimpanzees — are close cousins to humans and therefore face a risk of contracting the virus. In January, eight gorillas at the zoo’s Safari Park were infected after being exposed to a keeper who had the virus and showed no symptoms.— Los Angeles Times
As of Wednesday, L.A. County public health officials have identified 27 cases of the COVID-19 variant first detected in the United Kingdom and one case of the variant first detected in Brazil. Gov. Gavin Newsom also announced the variant first identified in New York had been detected in Southern California. No cases have been identified of the variant first detected in South Africa in L.A. County. Brazilian authorities have reported multiple instances of people who recovered from COVID-19 only to become sick again with the new variant. — Patch, CBS Los Angeles
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Roughly 20% of US Adults Have Received at Least One COVID-19 Vaccine
Seven counties moved into a less restrictive tier in California’s reopening plan Tuesday; Los Angeles and Orange County could be next.
Los Angeles County health officials confirmed 1,407 new cases of COVID-19 and 91 new deaths Tuesday. There are currently 1,502 people hospitalized for the virus in the county. — Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
The average daily number of people testing positive for the coronavirus in L.A. County has fallen below 1,000, according to county public health director Dr. Barbara Ferrer. Cases and deaths among health care workers — who were among the first people to receive a COVID-19 vaccine — have also significantly dropped. L.A. County confirmed more than 1,800 cases among health care workers during the week of Nov. 29, according to Ferrer, but only 69 during the week of Feb. 14. — ABC Los Angeles
Santa Clara, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco and Napa counties moved into the red tier of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s reopening plan Tuesday, allowing them to roll back restrictions on a variety of businesses, including movie theaters, restaurants, hotels, zoos and museums and retail establishments. Purple-level restrictions in L.A. County and Orange County will be lifted should the regions’ adjusted case rate per hundred thousand residents fall and remain under 7 for three consecutive weeks. — Deadline
Just over 10% of U.S. adults have received both doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while roughly 20.3% have received at least one dose. While the number of new infections shrinks, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky warned states not to start rolling back restrictions in order to avoid another surge as new coronavirus variants continue to spread. “Please hear me clearly: At this level of cases with variants spreading, we stand to completely lose the hard-earned ground we have gained,” Walensky said. — Newsweek
Pink’s Hot Dogs reopened Monday following a nearly two-month hiatus brought on as a safety measure as COVID-19 infections and deaths rapidly rose during the winter surge. The owners say Pink’s will offer sit-down dining at its outdoor patio. — Eater Los Angeles
Monday, March 1, 2021
Newsom: California to Receive 380,000 Doses of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 Vaccine This Week
Teachers and food and agriculture workers are among the 1.2 million people now eligible for vaccination across L.A. County.
Los Angeles County health officials confirmed 987 new COVID-19 cases and 32 deaths Monday. There are 1,578 people in L.A. County hospitalized with COVID-19. — Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
Last week, the Federal Communications Commission finalized plans for a new subsidy program that would provide eligible low-income households with a credit of up to $50 toward their internet bill through the end of the pandemic. Eligible households in tribal areas may receive up to $75 per month. The program would also provide eligible households up to $100 off the purchase of a computer or tablet. Sign-up could start within the next 60 days. — CNN Wire
Elementary schools under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Unified School District could reopen by mid-April — that’s when all staffers should reach maximum immunity post-vaccination. Negotiations between the district and the teachers union over reopening conditions continue, possibly hinting at an even later reopening date. — Patch
An estimated 1.2 million teachers, food and agriculture workers, child care workers, law enforcement personnel and emergency services workers are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Health officials are asking for patience, as vaccine supplies remain limited. — CBS Los Angeles
As of Sunday night, Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine is out for delivery across the U.S., according to the White House. Gov. Gavin Newsom says California will receive 380,000 doses this week. Unlike its Moderna and Pfizer counterparts, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one dose and is easier to store. It has been determined to be 85% effective at preventing severe or critical illness. — ABC Los Angeles