Officials with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) cautioned residents Thursday to avoid gathering with non-household members during the upcoming holiday weekend.

On Thursday, LADPH officials urged county residents to “take extra measures to protect each other as the Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, and Presidents Day holidays approach.”

“Being around people who aren’t part of your household puts you at a greater risk for COVID-19,” reads a statement issued by the LADPH Thursday. “So, the best way to stay safe is to celebrate with just your household and connect virtually with friends and family that don’t live with you.”

Officials added that it was “critically important” that residents not attend any private gatherings or leave their home if they either are experiencing symptoms of illness, have tested positive for COVID-19, or if they have been exposed or likely have been exposed to someone who is positive.

“L.A. County has made encouraging progress in all the key indicators this month. Let us not step backward on our recovery journey,” said LADPH Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer in a statement Thursday. “If we do not gather, we save lives.”

An additional 3,489 COVID-19 cases were reported in Los Angeles County on Thursday, along with 160 deaths, according to the LADPH.

This brings the county’s cumulative total to 1,158,619 positive cases of COVID-19 and 18,658 deaths since the onset of the pandemic, according to the department.

Testing results are available for over 5,647,000 people, with 19 percent of people testing positive.

As of Thursday, there were 3,772 people hospitalized with COVID-19, 29 percent of which were in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“L.A. County has made encouraging progress in all the key indicators this month. Let us not step backward on our recovery journey,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the LADPH. “We know from experience that gatherings, parties, and the other activities we usually do with non-household members on holidays leads to increases in transmission, hospitalizations, and deaths. Continuing to slow transmission requires limiting the number of people we interact with. If we do not gather, we save lives.”

The Southern California Region has 10.6% staffed adult ICU capacity remaining as of the state’s last update on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 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 Los Angeles County must self-quarantine for 10 days. Residents are asked to remain at home or lodging for the 10 days and avoid contact with others.

See Related: L.A. County Only Administering Second COVID-19 Vaccine Doses For Remainder Of Week

On Thursday, 79 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Santa Clarita Valley, with 24,292 cumulative cases having been reported in the valley since March of 2020, according to the LADPH. These cases include:

• 18,287 in the City of Santa Clarita* (+59)

• 42 in the unincorporated areas of Bouquet Canyon

• 738 in the unincorporated areas of Canyon Country

• 3,502 in Castaic* (+7)

• 66 in the unincorporated areas of Newhall

• 14 in San Francisquito/Bouquet Canyon

• 15 in unincorporated Sand Canyon

• 125  in the unincorporated areas of Saugus

• 36 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus/Canyon Country (+2)

• 995 in Stevenson Ranch (+3)

• 297 in the unincorporated areas of Val Verde (+2)

• 169 in the unincorporated areas of Valencia

In nearby Acton, there have been 412 cumulative cases (+3), as well as 242 cases in Agua Dulce.

*As of Tuesday, Feb. 9, public health officials have recorded 1,956 cumulative cases have been reported at the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center, including 1,425 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.

There were 39 COVID-19 patients in Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital as of Thursday, Feb. 11, while 1,095 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 Wednesday, with a total of 130 coronavirus deaths at the hospital, with at least 224 COVID-19 deaths reported across the Santa Clarita Valley since March 2020.

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

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