County Of Los Angeles - Update 8/7/20 - College Protocols, 18-49 Year Olds, #theriskisreal & #byom

Press release from the Venice Chamber of Commerce:

August 07, 2020

REOPENING PROTOCOLS FOR COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES COMING SOON, 18-49 YEAR OLDS MAKE UP NEARLY 60 PERCENT OF NEW CASES, #TheRiskIsReal, and #BYOM

The County of Los Angeles is regularly updating resources on COVID-19 and offers today's update in an effort to keep you and yours informed. Please share the following up-to-date information:

Coming Soon: Reopening Protocols for Colleges & Universities

Photo: East Los Angeles College

LA County's Department of Public Health (DPH) has urged colleges and universities in the County to have plans in place for the continuation of distance learning, given the recent increases in COVID-19 cases, test positivity rate, and hospitalizations in the County. Currently, colleges and universities remain closed statewide, except where supporting essential workforce activities.

DPH is working closely with the State to ensure that when students return to campuses, the environment will be safe for all. Once State guidance is updated, DPH will release a Reopening Protocol for Institutes of Higher Education to assist colleges and universities plan toward the eventual return to in-person instruction. Stay tuned!

18-49 Year Olds Make Up Nearly 60% of New COVID Cases

The COVID-19 epidemic in LA County continues to affect younger County residents. According to data shared this week by LA County's Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Department of Health Services (DHS), trends continue to show a steep increase in the number cases and hospitalizations among LA County's young adult population.

Cases

DPH announced residents between the ages of 18 and 49 years old make up nearly 60% of new COVID-19 cases in LA County - and those between 30 and 49 years of age have the highest rate among ALL age groups.

In the above slide, the blue line (which represents adults ages 30-49) has the highest case rate among all age groups in LA County. The yellow line (which represents people ages 18-29) shows how case rates have quadrupled for this group from nearly 200 cases in early June to a peak of 882 on July 23rd. This explosive growth in cases shows that young adults are driving the infections in the County.

Hospitalizations

But rates of new cases isn't the only concern for LA County's young adults. Younger residents are also being hospitalized more than before. In fact, people between the ages of 30 and 49 years old account for 25% of hospitalized patients in the County. According to DHS, patients 18 to 29 years old now account for more than twice the proportion of ALL hospitalizations than they did in April - and they match the hospitalization rate of people 80 years or older.

Young patients, including those with no underlying health conditions, are arriving to emergency departments unable to breathe. Sadly, many are requiring hospitalization or mechanical ventilation, too. No one is invincible.

Help us slow the spread of COVID-19 among ALL populations in LA County by complying to the public health directives in place -- continue to wear a face covering, continue to practice physical distance and continue to avoid gathering with people you don’t live with.

#TheRiskIsReal

Christine, a 31-year-old LA County resident (pictured above) was a COVID-19 patient in our hospital system. She's now recovered and is sharing her experience with you to spread awareness of the importance of masking up, keeping six away from people we don’t live with it, and washing our hands regularly.

People under 50 now represent the majority of the County's cases of COVID-19. Given this trend, LA County has launched a social media and billboard campaign with the help of COVID-19 survivors. It's called "The Risk Is Real."

Click here to view the campaign, and be sure to follow @CountyofLA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to share #TheRiskIsReal with those you hold dear.

#BringYourOwnMask Challenge

Weeks ago, LA County launched the #BYOM Challenge encouraging County residents to "bring your own mask", wherever you go. Since then, many have posted selfies or videos of themselves wearing their masks and encouraging others to bring them (and wear them) in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. One of those is the City of LA's @ReadyLA who shared the below video (you can also watch it with Spanish or Korean subtitles):

Other partners include the City of Pasadena and Retired Professional Boxer (& Olympic Gold-Medal Winner) Oscar De La Hoya, who tells us how YOU can knock out COVID-19:

To watch Oscar De La Hoya's video in Spanish, click here.

Have your own selfie or video to share? If so, don't forget to tag @CountyofLA and show us how you're joining the #BYOM challenge!

And if you're not up for recording yourself, but want to help us get the word out, use our #BYOM Toolkit which contains shareable graphics and language made especially for you.

This press release was produced by the Venice Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed are the author's own.