People planning to visit hospital patients will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result from within 72 hours of the visit beginning tomorrow, according to the California Department of Public Health. The new guidelines come as Long Beach coronavirus hospitalizations reach their highest point since March 1.
The state order applies to indoor visits at all general acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities. Visitors can prove their fully vaccinated status with a physical vaccination record card issued by the CDC or WHO, a photo of the card, documentation from a health care worker or a digital QR code.
“This state order is keeping with our commitment to providing a safe environment for our patients, visitors, employees and the people of the communities we serve,” Lakewood Regional and Los Alamitos medical centers spokeswoman Jennifer Bayer said in an email.
Facilities may offer onsite testing for visitors but it is not required by the CDPH guidelines. Lakewood Regional will not offer onsite test for visitors, Bayer said, adding the hospital has two community vaccination sites within 100 feet. It was not immediately clear if Long Beach Memorial or St. Mary would offer testing for visitors.
If a patient is in critical condition, “when death may be imminent,” the visitors are exempt from the vaccination and testing requirements, according to the CDPH. However, masks and social distancing requirements remain in place for all visitors regardless of status.
“MemorialCare is completely committed to doing all we can to defeat this pandemic and provide safe care for our patients, employees, physicians and our community,” Dr. Graham Tse, physician in charge of COVID-19 at Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s, said in an email.
The city on Tuesday reported one new coronavirus-related death for a total of 957 and 418 new cases. In Long Beach-area hospitals, 118 people are hospitalized. After a low of one on June 18, the new daily cases per 100,000 residents is now 34.7, the highest level since Feb. 11. The city’s positivity rate is 8.4%.
At the county level, meanwhile, daily new cases per 100,000 residents is 24.9 and the positivity rate is 4.6%. County officials announced 22 new deaths Friday—the highest number of fatalities reported by the county since late April—and 2,622 new cases.
“We favor COVID-19 vaccination for everyone eligible because of the mounting evidence that these vaccines are effective and safe and provide the most powerful tool for ending the pandemic,” Director of Public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer said in a statement, adding that she supports targeted vaccination mandates such as those imposed on government and health workers. “High rates of vaccination allow us to remain fully open and protect those not yet eligible or able to get vaccinated.”
In Long Beach, 74.1% of adults have been inoculated. Of all eligible for the vaccine, including those ages 12-17, 71.3% have received the shot. Grassroots community organizations are assisting the city in attempts to increase vaccination rates among vulnerable communities.
https://staging-live.lbpost.com/news/convincing-the-unvaccinated-city-pushes-to-vaccinate-vulnerable-groups-as-covid-19-delta-variant-rages