The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced that the number of COVID-19 cases among people experiencing homelessness increased over the past month.
“On average, fewer than 30 new cases per week were reported among people experiencing homelessness between late-February and mid-July. This week, there were 185 new cases reported among people experiencing homelessness which includes 71 cases from previous weeks that were newly identified as cases associated with people experiencing homelessness and are included in the new case totals,” the release stated.
To date, 7,996 people experiencing homelessness in the county have tested positive for the virus and 218 of those cases have resulted in death, with 71 of those individuals announced as unsheltered.
The Department of Public Health’s most recent statistics show that three homeless people have died in August so far.
“People experiencing homelessness are at high risk of severe COVID-19 disease due to underlying health conditions, age, or both,” said Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer. “As we partner with others to reach people experiencing homelessness that are not yet vaccinated, layering protection at programs serving this population is critical.”
According to the release, in total, 1,138 providers administrating vaccinations in LA County are eligible to provide the vaccine to the homeless. 51,322 doses of the vaccine doses have been administered by those specific providers and 25,091 people who are experiencing homelessness are fully vaccinated countywide.
