COVID-19 hospitalizations inch upward in LA County; youth sports testing rules updated – Daily Bulletin

The variety of COVID-19-positive sufferers hospitalized in Los Angeles County rose again above 1,700 on Monday, Aug. 30, whereas county officers reported six extra virus-related deaths and a couple of,339 new infections.

Hospitalizations had fallen to 1,687 on Sunday, however based on state figures, the quantity rose again to 1,709 as of Monday, with 452 of these individuals in intensive care.

The six new deaths elevated the general dying toll from the pandemic to 25,251 within the county, whereas the cumulative variety of infections rose to 1,405,387. Based on the Division of Public Well being, the case and dying numbers had been possible artificially low, as a result of Monday numbers historically replicate delays in reporting from the weekend.

The rolling day by day common price of individuals testing constructive for the virus within the county was 2.4% as of Monday, up barely from 2.3% on Saturday.

In the meantime, the county introduced one other change to its evolving COVID tips for contributors and coaches in youth sports activities, together with school-based athletic packages. Below the beforehand launched guidelines, which had been set to take impact Wednesday, the county was mandating weekly COVID testing for all gamers and employees, no matter vaccination standing.

The revised guidelines, nevertheless, take away the weekly testing requirement for totally vaccinated youth collaborating in out of doors sports activities, except there’s a constructive case amongst gamers, coaches and/or employees. If there’s a constructive case, all gamers, coaches, employees and volunteers shall be required to have a weekly detrimental check for 2 weeks following publicity.

Weekly testing will nonetheless be mandated for all youth, employees, coaches and volunteers who should not totally vaccinated and are concerned in “average” or “excessive” threat indoor sports activities. For “average” or “excessive” threat out of doors sports activities, testing shall be required for all youth aged 12 and older, employees, coaches and volunteers who should not vaccinated. No weekly testing shall be required for kids underneath 12 concerned in out of doors sports activities.

Well being officers stated the principles may very well be modified additional primarily based on availability of testing, and shall be reassessed when total group transmission of the virus diminishes.

“We’re grateful to the colleges, districts, youth sport packages and fogeys who’ve labored so onerous in guaranteeing the protection of scholars, lecturers, athletes, and the various employees,” county Public Well being Director Barbara Ferrer stated in an announcement. “It is extremely necessary for anybody who exams constructive for COVID-19 to isolate from others and that masks are worn correctly in all indoor settings, which incorporates spectators, coaches and workers of youth sports activities no matter vaccination standing. The most effective safety for all scholar athletes 12 years and over, and for all coaches and staff employees is to get vaccinated.”

Over the weekend, Ferrer harassed the necessity to defend youngsters underneath age 12, who’re ineligible to be vaccinated.

“Throughout this era of excessive transmission, defending these youthful than 12 who should not but eligible for the vaccine, is of utmost significance and we will all take as many precautions as possible to restrict threat of transmission,” she stated.

Ferrer offered an inventory of security precautions, together with:

— Shifting actions outside at any time when doable;

— Distancing and avoiding crowds;

— Masking at all times when indoors and outside if distancing isn’t doable; and

— Fastidiously assessing nonessential actions that carry extra threat of transmission.