Health officials urge residents to get vaccinated
Since the last dedicated Profile article on COVID-19 restrictions in the County was published back in May, infection numbers in the City and the County were down which prompted local health officials to ease restrictions set forth in previous months.
Across the State, infection numbers were so encouraging, along with the rate of COVID-19 vaccinations that Governor Gavin Newsom ordered the State re-open for business on June 15. Across the State, all restrictions were eased, here locally restaurants were serving at full capacity once again, and masks were no longer required, just recommended for those who have yet received the vaccine.
Fast forward to now, Los Angeles County has reported more than 1.3 million County residents testing positive for COVID-19. Here locally, our numbers have increased from just over 11,000 back in May to over 12,000 as of this writing. Health officials are citing that the increase is due to the more contagious Delta variant that was first identified in Los Angeles County back in June.
Since the increase in cases in the County, health officials are urging all residents to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Health officials stress that the vaccine does NOT prevent COVID-19; it prevents severe illness and complications as a result of COVID-19 that lead to hospitalization and or death in some cases.
In addition to the vaccine and as a result of the Delta variant outbreak, the County Health Order was updated this past July mandating masks be worn once again regardless of vaccination status at all indoor public spaces and settings, including public and private businesses (offices, manufacturing, warehouses, retail, restaurants, theaters, family entertainment centers, meetings, and state and local government office), public transportation, and indoors in K-12 schools, childcare, and other youth settings. In addition, masks will now be required for all outdoor megaevents of 10,000 or more attendees. The mask mandate was re-introduced based on the fact that despite being vaccinated, one may still carry the virus, be asymptomatic, and pass it on to someone else.
The good news about local vaccinations is that the City of Pico Rivera is approximately 73% vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID19 Vaccine while our Senior population is close to 100% vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine.
For information on the vaccines including vaccination sites, visit vaccinatelacounty.com. As a reminder to our residents, vaccines are available for those who are 16 years and older, 12 years and older for the Pfizer vaccine, and all vaccines are FREE of charge regardless of insurance status. At the time of publication, this was the most current information regarding the State’s and County’s Health Orders.
For the most up-to-date information about State and County measures including the current County Health Orders, visit picoriverastrong.org or the City’s website at picorivera.org and click the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information tab located on the right of the web page.
