REGIONAL MESSAGE ON COVID-19 THREAT ALERT SOUTHBAY CITIES
JOINT INFORMATION CENTER
KEY MESSAGES
THE THREE MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE
We know it's been a long and exhaustive ten months for our communities. However, with positive case rates increasing rapidly, what we do now matters, maybe more than you may think. The Department of Health Services estimates that 1 in 140 residents are infected with COVID-19 and are either symptomatic or asymptomatic (no symptoms). These active cases are everywhere in our communities. The chance of encountering the virus is much greater than it was even a few weeks ago. ICU capacity continues to decrease, limiting critical resources for those who need it now or may need it in the future. Southern California's ICU Capacity is now down to 6.2%, from 14.8% less than a week ago when the regional Stay at Home order went into effect. The number of people hospitalized in LA County with COVID-19 has also nearly doubled over the last two weeks since Thanksgiving from 1,809 on 11/26 to 3,624 reported by LA Public Health today. The actions we take today will make an impact. The three most significant things you can do right now are:
Wear a face covering when you leave your home.
Physical distance whenever possible, especially when indoors.
Avoid gatherings.
Some general information about behaviors that will make a difference:
If you feel sick, stay home. It is likely you have COVID-19, as this is the predominant virus circulating in our communities. Follow the 14-day isolation protocols to limit others' exposure to you.
Do not use a negative test as an ‘ok to gather’ pass. If you’re symptomatic, assume you have it and stay home.
Do not use a negative COVID test to interact with people, ESPECIALLY if you have been exposed.
Do not use 911 to get tested or visit a hospital only for testing. You can make an appointment by visiting the LA County testing website. 911 is for emergencies only.
Hospital emergency departments are increasingly busy, and ambulance resources are being stressed. There are plenty of alternate care facilities, such as urgent care facilities, that can be utilized for non-emergency situations. Hospitals are busy, but if you have an emergency, they will see you.
The main symptoms of COVID-19 are mild. There are no intervention treatments for mild cases, only supportive methods such as rest, sleep, and fever-reducing medications. Call your local healthcare provider to determine what appropriate actions you should take.
EXPOSURE 101
As community transmission continues to increase, it's likely more of us will be exposed to the virus. Exposure is defined as direct contact less than 6ft for 15 minutes or more over a 24hr period, regardless if you were wearing a face covering or not, to someone who tests positive for COVID-19. If you find yourself or a family member in this situation, you should follow the CDC and LA County Department of Public Health guidelines on isolation for 14-days to limit exposure to others.
December may be the most formidable challenge we have faced, and not just because of the virus. Businesses are suffering; communities are suffering; people are suffering. We all wanted normal holidays with our families and friends. The most significant gift to each other can be our actions because what you do matters and makes a difference.
TESTING DATA FROM BEACH CITIES HEALTH DISTRICT TESTING SITE
Our partners at Beach Cities Health District have compiled positive case rates from their COVID-19 testing site. While this is not reflective of the entire county, it may provide some insight on case rates by age. Here's the age breakdown of positive cases from the two weeks prior starting November 23-December 7, 2020; N=621
0-17 = 12% positive rate
18-29 =28% positive rate
30-44 = 30% positive rate
25-64 =26% positive rate
65+ = 4% positive rate
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