Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) officials warn public of potential COVID-19 transmission during large gatherings or travel for spring break or religious holiday celebrations

In a statement Saturday, the LADPH expressed concern over a potential spike in COVID-19 cases in the upcoming weeks as L.A. County’s transmission numbers steadily decrease.

“While COVID-19 numbers have decreased in L.A. County, transmission remains widespread and is increasing in many other states and countries,” reads the statement. “The safest way to observe religious and spiritual holidays at this time is still to gather virtually or with people who live with you.”

An additional 700 COVID-19 cases and 23 deaths were reported across L.A. County Saturday, according to officials.

This brings the county’s cumulative total to 1,217,707 positive cases of COVID-19 and 23,078 deaths since the onset of the pandemic, according to the LADPH officials.

Testing results are available for over 6,0611,000 people, with a cumulative 19 percent of people testing positive, according to officials.

LADPH officials are reminding the public that people are only considered “fully vaccinated” two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine.

As of Saturday, there were 676 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in L.A. County, 25 percent of which were in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The Southern California Region has 31.8 percent staffed adult ICU capacity remaining as of the state’s last update on Tuesday, March 23, according to State health officials.

Residents are encouraged to continue to prevent the spread of COVID-19, to not gather in crowds, stay home when sick, wear a face covering and maintain physical distance from others when outside of the home.

A travel advisory remains in effect for L.A. County. Anyone who is arriving in L.A. County must self-quarantine for 10 days, according to officials.

Residents are asked to remain at home or lodging for 10 days and avoid contact with others.

On Saturday, March 27, 2021, 23 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Santa Clarita Valley, with 26,302 cumulative cases having been reported in the valley over the past year, according to the LADPH. These cases include:

• 19,863 in the City of Santa Clarita* (+15)
• 47 in the unincorporated areas of Bouquet Canyon
• 822 in the unincorporated areas of Canyon Country (+3)
• 3,672 in Castaic* (+8)
• 68 in the unincorporated areas of Newhall (-1)
• 1 in Placerita Canyon
• 15 in San Francisquito/Bouquet Canyon
• 17 in unincorporated Sand Canyon
• 128 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus (-3)
• 39 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus/Canyon Country
• 1,117 in Stevenson Ranch (+5)
• 329 in the unincorporated areas of Val Verde (+2)
• 184 in the unincorporated areas of Valencia (-1)

*As of Friday, March 26, public health officials have recorded 1,985 cumulative cases have been reported at the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center, including 1,446 (+3) at the North County Correctional Facility. Those cases are distributed between both the City of Santa Clarita and Castaic totals. Those cases are distributed between both the City of Santa Clarita and Castaic totals.

In nearby Acton, there have been 460 cumulative cases (+1), as well as 267 (+1) cases in Agua Dulce.

There were six COVID-19 patients in Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital as of Wednesday, March 10, while 1,171 patients have been discharged since the hospital’s first case was reported in March 2020, according to Patrick Moody, spokesperson for the hospital.

One additional death was reported at Henry Mayo on Monday, March 8, with a total of 145 coronavirus deaths at the hospital, with at least 264 COVID-19 deaths reported across the Santa Clarita Valley since March 2020.

Check the Vaccinate L.A. County Website or follow @LAPublicHealth on social media for more information on when and where people in these sectors can get vaccinated.

See All Coronavirus Coverage: Coronavirus Coverage – COVID-19 Map

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