People crowd the Santa Monica Pier as they head to shore to beat the heat on Sept. 5, 2021 in Santa Monica as dry conditions and warm temperatures bring a heat advisory for Labor Day weekend.
(Frederic J. Brown
/
AFP via Getty Images)
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Health officials are urging Angelenos — especially those who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 — to exercise caution this Labor Day.
This point last year marked a turning point in the pandemic, as case numbers nationwide started to drop after the summertime surge, then surged again in the weeks following the 2020 Labor Day weekend.
Locally, COVID-19 cases spiked shortly after the major holidays last year, which resulted in thousands of people needing hospital care.
While the current pace of vaccinations could prevent a repeat of that scenario, everyone — regardless of their vaccination status — should be aware of the risks involved if they're planning any get-togethers, L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.
"If you live with others, there is additional risk for each person in your household," Ferrer said. "The more protections you and those in your household have, the safer you are — not only personally, but for the benefit of those you love."
Holding gatherings outdoors, knowing everyone's vaccination status, and wearing masks around others can all substantially lower the risk of infection, Ferrer reiterated.
Fentanyl and other drugs fuel record deaths among people experiencing homelessness in L.A. County. From 2019 to 2021, deaths jumped 70% to more than 2,200 in a single year.
April Valentine died at Centinela Hospital. Her daughter was born by emergency C-section. She'd gone into the pregnancy with a plan, knowing Black mothers like herself were at higher risk.
Before navigating domestic life in the United States, AAPI immigrants often navigated difficult lives in their motherlands, dealing with everything from poverty to war.
