COVID-19 Outbreaks Surge in Los Angeles County and Beyond

Los Angeles County is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 outbreaks, particularly in nursing homes, schools, and workplaces. The number of new outbreaks in nursing homes is unusually high, while schools are also reporting a significant number of investigations. Workplaces, including those in the entertainment industry, are also seeing an uptick in outbreaks. Hospitalizations have doubled since early August, but remain below previous peaks. Although there hasn't been a corresponding increase in deaths, rising infections could potentially lead to more fatalities. The proportion of COVID-19 deaths in L.A. County is currently half of what it was last year. Wastewater levels indicate a rise in coronavirus transmission, but still far below previous surges. Officials are monitoring a new subvariant, Pirola, which has more mutations and may be more capable of causing infection in vaccinated individuals. Masking and vaccination are encouraged to mitigate the spread of the virus.