Mirroring the overall trend in Los Angeles County, COVID-19 case numbers among staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities increased in early-July through mid-August and have begun to decline in the past few weeks.

“The decline in cases at skilled nursing facilities is welcomed news and reflects the high vaccination coverage at these facilities along with the stringent infection control measures,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County Department of Public Health Director. “We continue to prioritize and support skilled nursing facilities with third doses for those residents who are immunocompromised and are prepared to ramp up these efforts once boosters are approved. The decline in cases and deaths at nursing homes is an important reminder of just how powerful the vaccines are in preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19.”

During the week ending August 8, 123 cases were reported among residents and staff at skilled nursing facilities. For the week ending September 12, 55 people tested positive for COVID-19 at skilled nursing facilities: 20 new cases were among skilled nursing facility residents and 35 new cases among skilled nursing facility staff. Over the past three weeks, an average of 65 new cases were reported among staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities.

Currently, 88% of residents and 90% of staff at skilled nursing facilities are fully vaccinated. Skilled nursing facilities are subject to strict infection control precautions and are also required to verify the vaccine status of all workers and conduct routine testing of staff and residents. By September 30, healthcare workers, including staff at skilled nursing facilities, are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

On Wednesday, Public Health confirmed 41 new deaths and 1,750 new cases of COVID-19, and has identified 1,448,065 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 25,911 deaths.

There are 1,018 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 31% of these people are in the ICU.

At Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Santa Clarita, the number of patients hospitalized has increased by 31% after several weeks of trending downward.

“We’ve gone from 22 hospitalized patients to 29 in less than a week,” Moody said. “We continue to strongly encourage all who are eligible to get vaccinated.”

According to the CDC, vaccination is the best way to stay out of the hospital, Henry Mayo officials emphasized.

As of Wednesday, Sept. 22, 34,035 cumulative cases have been reported in the Santa Clarita Valley since March of 2020, according to Public Health. These cases include:

• 26,021 in the City of Santa Clarita* (+55)
• 62 in the unincorporated areas of Bouquet Canyon
• 1,110 in the unincorporated areas of Canyon Country
• 4,338 in Castaic* (+8)
• 70 in the unincorporated areas of Newhall
• 4 in Placerita Canyon
• 18 in San Francisquito/Bouquet Canyon
• 22 in unincorporated Sand Canyon
• 161 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus (+1)
• 47 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus/Canyon Country
• 1,615 in Stevenson Ranch (+6)
• 414 in the unincorporated areas of Val Verde
• 264 in the unincorporated areas of Valencia

*As of Monday, Sept. 20, public health officials have recorded 2,182 cumulative cases at the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center, including 1,577 at the North County Correctional Facility. Those cases are distributed between both the City of Santa Clarita and Castaic totals.

Public Health encourages everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated against COVID-19. Many vaccination sites across the county, including all the County-run sites, are also offering third doses of vaccine to eligible immunocompromised people. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

To learn how to make a vaccine appointment, what verifications you will need to show at your vaccination appointment, and much more, visit the L.A. County Vaccination website (English) or Vacunate Los Angeles website (Spanish).

Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

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

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