COVID-19 Cases Increase Across LA

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

COVID-19 metrics have surged in the past weeks, including cases, hospitalizations, outbreaks and positivity rates, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

“Even with the holiday reporting delays, on Saturday, LA County reported 23,553 new cases, and on Sunday, an additional 21,200 individuals had positive test results,” according to Public Health. “Hospitalization [rates] have risen to 1,628, and over 20% of those getting tested are positive for COVID.”

Data also shows pediatric hospitalizations increased by nearly 190% between Saturday, December 4, and Saturday, December 25.

With students slated to return to school this month, Public Health is urging Angelenos to follow public health measures that reduce transmission including wearing a medical grade mask indoors and in outdoor crowded spaces, and testing staff and students before or during the first days of schools reopening.

A number of local entities have shifted recent plans amid COVID-19 concerns.

Chamber Music Palisades canceled its concert scheduled for Wednesday, January 19, due to concerns about the Omicron variant.

“We were so excited when we were able to have a live concert in October 2021 and hope to have that experience again soon, but right now the health of the musicians and the audience takes priority,” CMP said in a statement. “We hope to see you at our February 16 concert.”

Palisades Charter High School also canceled and postponed athletics and group activities on campus Wednesday, December 29, through Sunday, January 2, out of caution.

“After reviewing our current 40 active cases for student and faculty, we believe this to be the most prudent steps to ensure a safe campus environment as students and faculty prepare to return January 10,” the school said in a statement.

As the Palisadian-Post went to print Tuesday, Pali High did not anticipate changes to the start of spring semester.

The City of Malibu Emergency Services released news saying “Tuesday, January 4 [would] be a distance learning day for all Malibu Middle School and Malibu High School students due to the number of positive cases from a partial report of their Sunday testing.”

The news alert said the decision was based on the high percentage of positive cases and recommendations from Public Health.

In an effort to increase capacity at schools to offer testing to returning students, Public Health and the LA County Office of Education said they are working to distribute at-home test kits provided by the state for the county’s students.

The L.A. County Home Test Collection program is also offering free, at-home COVID nasal swab test kits via mail to residents who have experienced COVID-19 symptoms or believe they may have been exposed. The kits are free and can be requested at covid19.lacounty.gov/hometest.

As of Thursday, December 30, over 16.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered to people across LA County. To date, 87.9% of Pacific Palisades and 89% of Palisades Highlands residents have gotten at least one shot, according to data from Public Health.

Angelenos are eligible to get vaccinated at county-run vaccination sites, LA City sites, and St. John’s Well Child and Family Center sites. To find a vaccination site or make an appointment, visit vaccinateLAcounty.com.

As the Post went to print Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 had reached 1,757,522 across the county when factoring in Long Beach and Pasadena, with 27,647 deaths.

Pacific Palisades had reached 1,813 confirmed cases and 15 deaths Tuesday, with an additional 321 in Palisades Highlands and one death.