This weekend, your Labor Day checklists should include a “COVID-19 risk assessment,” according to Los Angeles public health officials.
“I know we're all anxious about keeping our families safe. But we also want to enjoy the Labor Day holiday,” L.A. Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a Thursday health update.
“I don't think it's an either/or this year. I think there are many ways and opportunities for us to enjoy. but I think each person is going to have to do an individual risk assessment."
While transmission in L.A. County remains high there are positive signs in the latest numbers released by the public health department - including a decrease in the case rate.
“The 7-day cumulative case rate decreased 16 percent from last week to 159 new cases per 100,000 residents,” the department said in a statement Thursday.
“This is the second week in a row with small decreases in the county’s case rate. Overall, the county has seen a 22 percent decrease from the peak of 204 cases per 100,000 on Aug. 19.”
The Thursday update includes the report of 43 news deaths and 2,741 new cases of COVID-19.
Of the 43 who have recently died, five were over the age of 80, 16 people were between the ages of 65 and 79, 14 people were between the ages of 50 and 64 and four people were between the ages of 30 and 49.
More than half of L.A. County residents are now vaccinated, according to health officials. So far 64 percent of people have had at least one vaccine dose and 56 percent are fully vaccinated.
The vaccination urgency continues though, according to health officials, who said new numbers show more than 30,000 fully vaccinated people who have contracted COVID-19.
“Among the nearly 5.3 million fully vaccinated people in L.A. County, public health identified 37,614 people who tested positive for COVID-19 as of August 31,” the department said. “While this is an increase of 15 percent from last week, less than 1 percent of all those vaccinated have become infected with COVID-19.”
The numbers mean two things. One, that people who are fully vaccinated are “extremely well protected” from COVID-19 related hospitalization and death,” and two, the numbers make it clear that not even the vaccines can provide 100 percent protection from the ongoing pandemic.
Ahead of the Labor Day weekend, Ferrer suggests considering personal risk by considering the following questions:
-Are you young, healthy and working from home? Or are you a senior with a chronic health problem?
-Are you around young kids or others who are not vaccinated?
-Is it the activity outdoors and distanced? Or is it indoors and crowded?
-Can you open a door or some windows?
If the activities seem risky, but you still plan to go, Ferrer said it is best to stay away from crowds and use layers of protection, such as double masks.
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