As COVID Rates Climb Among LA's Youth, County Issues Health Order

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles County reported a setback Monday with an increase in coronavirus hospitalizations. At the same, case rates among young people are climbing dramatically, prompting county health officials on Monday to issue new health orders for youth sports.

With the majority of children still unvaccinated, their cases rates are surging as the highly contagious Delta variant spreads across Los Angeles County. Among the unvaccinated between the ages of 12 and 18, the case rate is 307 new cases per 100,000 youths. Not long ago, that rate was 73 per 100,000 youths, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

“It is important to note that while cases among children increased across the board, there is a four-fold difference in the case rate between vaccinated and unvaccinated children,” county health pointed out in a written statement.

Focusing on the much higher rate of infection among unvaccinated children, health officials on Monday mandated regular COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated athletes in high-risk sports.

Under revised COVID guidelines issued Monday participants and coaches in youth sports, including school-based athletic programs must only undergo weekly testing if they are unvaccinated. The vaccinated will only have to get tested if there is a positive case among players, coaches and/or staff. If there is a positive case, all players, coaches, staff and volunteers will be required to have a weekly negative test for two weeks following exposure. No weekly testing will be required for children under 12 involved in outdoor sports.

"Case, hospitalization and death rates are higher among unvaccinated members of all groups than they are among those vaccinated," Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. "Vaccinated people continue to have rates for all outcomes that are many-fold lower than those unvaccinated -- they are four to eight times less likely to be hospitalized, and five to seven times less likely to die from an infection."

Ferrer described the new health measures as a collaboration between the county, school districts and youth sports leagues.

"We are grateful to the schools, districts, youth sport programs and parents who have worked so hard in ensuring the safety of students, teachers, athletes, and the many staff," Ferrer said in a statement. "It is very important for anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 to isolate from others and that masks are worn properly in all indoor settings, which includes spectators, coaches and employees of youth sports regardless of vaccination status. The best protection for all student athletes 12 years and over, and for all coaches and team staff is to get vaccinated... During this period of high transmission, protecting those younger than 12 who are not yet eligible for the vaccine, is of utmost importance and we can all take as many precautions as feasible to limit risk of transmission."

The county notched a troubling uptick in coronavirus hospitalizations Monday. The number of COVID-19-positive patients hospitalized in Los Angeles County rose back above 1,700 Monday, while county officials reported six more virus-related deaths and 2,339 new infections.

Hospitalizations had fallen to 1,687 on Sunday, but according to state figures, the number rose back to 1,709 as of Monday, with 452 of those people in intensive care.

The six new deaths increased the overall death toll from the pandemic to 25,251 in the county, while the cumulative number of infections rose to 1,405,387. According to the Department of Public Health, the case and death numbers were likely artificially low, because Monday numbers traditionally reflect delays in reporting from the weekend.

The rolling daily average rate of people testing positive for the virus in the county was 2.4% as of Monday, up slightly from 2.3% on Saturday.

Ferrer provided a list of safety precautions, including:

• moving activities outdoors whenever possible;
• distancing and avoiding crowds;
• masking always when indoors and outdoors if distancing isn't possible; and
• carefully assessing nonessential activities that carry more risk of transmission.

The Los Angeles Unified School District introduced school-based coronavirus vaccine clinics beginning Monday, offering the shots on campus to any eligible students and employees.

Ferrer said that during the week of Aug. 16-22, 3,186 new cases were confirmed in schools, with the highest percentage involving LAUSD campuses, where weekly testing is required.

According to Ferrer, 74% of eligible L.A. County residents age 12 and up have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 64% are fully vaccinated. Of the county's overall population of about 10.3 million people -- including those under age 12 who aren't eligible for the shots -- 63% have received at least one dose, and 55% are fully vaccinated.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.