As Beverly Hills inches toward 2,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19, residents are encouraged to heed advice from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) regarding this weekend’s Super Bowl. Namely, if you’re thinking about having a Super Bowl party, don’t do it. In the weeks following every holiday, and many major sporting events, the county experienced increases in cases, and then hospitalizations and deaths. Public Health recommends residents enjoy the Super Bowl and cheer for their team from their homes with those they live with. Residents should connect virtually with their friends and not gather with people from outside their households to watch the Super Bowl.
As of Feb. 4, Public Health has identified 1,129,503 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 17,308 deaths. Additionally, a third case of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, the variant discovered in the United Kingdom (U.K.), has been identified. Presence of the B.1.1.7 variant in L.A. County means virus transmission can happen more easily, and residents and businesses must be more diligent at implementing and following all standard public health safety measures, including face coverings, distancing, and handwashing, put in place to prevent additional cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.
Along with the majority of the state, L A. County is in the most restrictive purple tier in the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. In order to move into the red tier and have additional opportunities for reopenings, L.A. County’s daily case rate must be at or below seven new cases per 100,00 people and the County’s test positivity rate must be at or below eight percent. As of Jan. 23, L.A. County’s adjusted case rate is 38.7 new cases per 100,000 people and the test positivity rate is 11.3 percent.
Public Health notes that residents have a long way to go before transmission in the county is considered no longer widespread. By following all the rules, progress can be made toward a less restrictive tier.
“We share our deepest condolences to everyone who is mourning the loss of a family member, a loved one or a friend. Our prayers are with you always,” said Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., ME.d., Director of Public Health. “Super Bowl parties have the power to derail our recovery and given the likelihood that there are more infectious variants circulating in our community, let’s not take chances with our own health and the health of others by creating easy opportunities for the virus to spread. This weekend, we ask that you not share with others your respiratory droplets, which are more easily spread when we raise our voices, cheer, sing, and chant. The serious consequences of gathering indoors with people outside of your household to watch the Super Bowl is just not worth it.”
Public Health also indicates that it is constantly aligning vaccine strategies to reach the most vulnerable. “As a reminder, we are prioritizing vaccinating individuals 65 years and older, while working with our partners and the state to further plan for vaccinating additional workers in the prioritized groups. Given the limited weekly shipments, a limited vaccine supply requires balancing priorities. While the state is updating its distribution plans, the County must also look at how best to protect the most vulnerable with the goal of reducing mortality. We ask for patience until we receive all the vaccine we need to get to everyone who wants to get vaccinated,” said a statement.
At this time, COVID-19 vaccine remains very limited. Public Health’s www.VaccinateLACounty.com connects residents eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations to appointment registration links and much more. For those without access to a computer or the internet or with disabilities, a call center is open to help schedule appointments at 833-540-0473 daily from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
