Why so many covid 19 cases and deaths in LA County (Los Angeles: expensive, top)

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by blameyourself

Actually, the only thing that seems to be permanent is arguing about it.

Exactly. And even with the current surge here, they're only recommending masks for indoor use.

Los Angeles County health officials are urging workers and students to wear masks in indoor public settings for at least 10 days once they return to work and school.

Masking, which remains recommended but not required in indoor public settings in L.A. County, can help interrupt the cycle of transmission, many experts say. Individual work sites, venues and other settings can set their own requirements if they so choose.

https://www.latimes.com/california/s...nt-covid-spike

[goodheathen]

LAUSD has been distributing free COVID-19 tests and urging students to get tested before school resumes on Monday. I don't know why not require that (students hardly have rights as is), but if most people go along with it, major community likely will be prevented.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by skyway31

You can’t have poorly managed hospitals and then try to tell the public their way of life must be compromised as a result. Many of us have granted you 2020 as an exception. But, it’s now a week from 2023. Issues with surge capacity are now solely the fault of the hospitals.

Let's blame the hospitals. As if that will solve these problems.

"In the emergency department at MLK Community Hospital, masked patients lay in wheeled stretchers lining the hallways.

Others slumped in chairs where nurses attended to them. Amid the crush of people on a recent day in December, only the sickest or most severely injured got one of the 29 rooms.

The rise of flu, RSV, COVID and other winter viruses has exacerbated overcrowding that existed even before the pandemic, hospital officials said — the result of stark shortages in medical care in a low-income South Los Angeles neighborhood where most residents are Black or Latino.

Patients come to MLK’s emergency department with minor ailments they haven’t been able to get treated elsewhere, or more serious conditions that have become dire in the absence of care to prevent or manage them, said Dr. Elaine Batchlor, chief executive of MLK Community Healthcare.

When it opened seven and a half years ago, MLK’s emergency department was expected to handle 110 patients a day, or roughly 40,000 patients annually. Last year, more than 400 patients arrived on especially hectic days, for an annual total of more than 112,000 patients...

In a period of less than three weeks this winter, the hospital asked 101 times to divert emergency vehicles to other medical facilities because it was full, according to Gwen Driscoll, vice president of strategic communications at MLK Community Healthcare."

https://www.latimes.com/california/s...ncy-department

[loose cannon]

Poor eating habits. Excessive alcohol use. Probably a lot of Taco Bell and Jack In The Box consumption.

[goodheathen]

Originally Posted by loose cannon

Poor eating habits. Excessive alcohol use. Probably a lot of Taco Bell and Jack In The Box consumption.

Hmm, it's interesting that "excessive alcohol use" in fact does weaken immune system. In general, eating habits have only a little direct impact on it. Age, chronic health conditions, and other active infections are the biggest risk factors. By the way, those infections include non-HIV STDs, and Los Angeles has by far the most STD cases of any American city (Google if you don't believe me).

[goodheathen]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

Let's blame the hospitals. As if that will solve these problems.

"In the emergency department at MLK Community Hospital, masked patients lay in wheeled stretchers lining the hallways.

Others slumped in chairs where nurses attended to them. Amid the crush of people on a recent day in December, only the sickest or most severely injured got one of the 29 rooms.

The rise of flu, RSV, COVID and other winter viruses has exacerbated overcrowding that existed even before the pandemic, hospital officials said — the result of stark shortages in medical care in a low-income South Los Angeles neighborhood where most residents are Black or Latino.

Patients come to MLK’s emergency department with minor ailments they haven’t been able to get treated elsewhere, or more serious conditions that have become dire in the absence of care to prevent or manage them, said Dr. Elaine Batchlor, chief executive of MLK Community Healthcare.

When it opened seven and a half years ago, MLK’s emergency department was expected to handle 110 patients a day, or roughly 40,000 patients annually. Last year, more than 400 patients arrived on especially hectic days, for an annual total of more than 112,000 patients...

In a period of less than three weeks this winter, the hospital asked 101 times to divert emergency vehicles to other medical facilities because it was full, according to Gwen Driscoll, vice president of strategic communications at MLK Community Healthcare."

https://www.latimes.com/california/s...ncy-department

No, the streetcorner screamer is correct about this. 1) That's just one, rather disadvantaged hospital. 2) Hardships don't justify lack of effort. MLK could and should have increased capacity somehow (even if the difference couldn't have been much), and it should have worked with local leaders to increase flu and COVID-19 vaccination rates to reduce emergency demand. Tolerating incompetence, laziness, and dishonesty from major institutions might be the main reason the pandemic continues.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by goodheathen

Hardships don't justify lack of effort. MLK could and should have increased capacity somehow (even if the difference couldn't have been much)

I disagree. MLK serves a population that has incredible disadvantages. They can barely keep up with those demands, much less deal with so many patients being routed to their hospital. From the article: "Dr. Elaine Batchlor, chief executive of MLK Community Healthcare, has also grown concerned about psychiatric patients being brought to the emergency department from beyond South L.A. Hospital officials say that such patients have been dropped off by police departments serving areas as far away as Santa Monica, Whittier and Huntington Beach."

And, regarding some clinics sending their patients to the ER for routine electrocardiograms to get cleared for surgery, "You would never see that in areas that have more resources," said Dr. Oscar Casillas, MLK’s medical director of emergency medicine.

Originally Posted by goodheathen

and it should have worked with local leaders to increase flu and COVID-19 vaccination rates to reduce emergency demand

I think that now that we're into the fourth year of the pandemic, we realize that there is only so much anyone can do to encourage people to get a vaccination or booster.

[goodheathen]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

I disagree. MLK serves a population that has incredible disadvantages. They can barely keep up with those demands, much less deal with so many patients being routed to their hospital. From the article: "Dr. Elaine Batchlor, chief executive of MLK Community Healthcare, has also grown concerned about psychiatric patients being brought to the emergency department from beyond South L.A. Hospital officials say that such patients have been dropped off by police departments serving areas as far away as Santa Monica, Whittier and Huntington Beach."

And, regarding some clinics sending their patients to the ER for routine electrocardiograms to get cleared for surgery, "You would never see that in areas that have more resources," said Dr. Oscar Casillas, MLK’s medical director of emergency medicine.



I think that now that we're into the fourth year of the pandemic, we realize that there is only so much anyone can do to encourage people to get a vaccination or booster.

"Encourage" is the problem. That's half-hearted (I'd rather use a term that would be censored). You tell people to get vaccinated/boosted, bring it to them, and apply pressure to do it then and there. LA had a mobile program in 2021
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/21/u...ne-mobile.html
My guess is it never got big enough, didn't offer any payments to be vaccinated, and then ended. Plus, it didn't include flu vaccination.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by goodheathen

You tell people to get vaccinated/boosted, bring it to them, and apply pressure to do it then and there. LA had a mobile program in 2021

As far as I know, they still have one. However, surely you realize that no one can force someone to get the vaccine.

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd...onSitesFAQ.pdf

L.A. County gives COVID shots at home. Advocates fear ‘people just don’t know about this’:
https://www.latimes.com/california/s...d-vaccinations

[goodheathen]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

As far as I know, they still have one. However, surely you realize that no one can force someone to get the vaccine.

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd...onSitesFAQ.pdf

L.A. County gives COVID shots at home. Advocates fear ‘people just don’t know about this’:
https://www.latimes.com/california/s...d-vaccinations

Info appreciated, mini-lecture not. I said "pressure." That or bribery, both work. It looks like the mobile program requires an invitation by a host and it's unclear if flu is covered. Many people don't live near or go to church or senior centers, many of which wouldn't arrange that anyway. I'm talking vehicles that semi-randomly invite themselves to public spots, maybe on weekends, maybe with megaphones and free snacks, and see how that goes. They could also make stops on the way to put COVID-19 info flyers and posters up on busy streets.