County: Youth, adult sports can resume Educator vaccination plan outlined; SCV death count increases by 13

The Santa Clarita Valley saw a significant jump in its COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, as Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials added 13 to the area’s death toll for a total of 261.

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital also reported one COVID-19-related death Wednesday. Figures reported by the hospital are not immediately added to the county’s figure.

In addition, Los Angeles County officials provided details on COVID-19 vaccinations for all school district employees, which are set to start Monday.

Debra Duardo, superintendent for the county Office of Education, said Wednesday all district

employees would be given equitable distribution to support the safe return to in-person instruction.

Starting Monday, available weekly doses are expected to be allocated to public school districts using a formula that considers the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced lunch, with 9% of those doses set to be provided to private school teachers and staff, Duardo said.

“Public school districts will be organized into five groups that will allow for the equitable allocation of doses,” Duardo added. “The five groups of districts are allocated percentages of available vaccine doses, based on student enrollment, as well as factors related to equity and risk of exposure. This plan ensures that each school district receives a weekly allocation of doses.”

In addition to being eligible to get vaccinated at the many pharmacies and clinics across the county, child care workers will have a dedicated vaccination site open for them at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, along with specific early child care and education days at the L.A. County large-capacity vaccination sites, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer added.

Public Health officials also released the following updated COVID-19 statistics Wednesday:

▪ Countywide COVID-19 cases reported in the past 24 hours: 2,157

▪ Total COVID-19 cases in L.A. County: 1,185,457

▪ New deaths related to COVID-19 reported in the past 24 hours: 136

▪ Total COVID-19 deaths in L.A. County: 20,987

▪ Hospitalizations countywide: 2,064, 30% of whom are in the ICU

▪ Hospitalizations at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital as of Feb. 24: 17, with 1,142 discharged since the onset of the pandemic

▪ COVID-19 cases reported in the Santa Clarita Valley in the past 24 hours: 116

▪ Total COVID-19 cases in the SCV: 25,835

▪ Total COVID-19 deaths in the SCV as of Feb. 23: 261, with one additional death Wednesday by Henry Mayo. The number of SCV cases, including all area health care providers’ daily figures and those at Pitchess Detention Center, broken down into region, are as follows:

▪ City of Santa Clarita: 18,923

▪ Unincorporated — Acton: 439

▪ Unincorporated — Agua Dulce: 252

▪ Unincorporated — Bouquet Canyon: 43

▪ Unincorporated — Canyon Country: 783

▪ Unincorporated — Castaic: 3,562 (majority of Castaic cases come from Pitchess Detention Center; exact number unavailable)

▪ Unincorporated — Lake Hughes: 40

▪ Unincorporated — Newhall: 66

▪ Unincorporated — Placerita Canyon: 1

▪ Unincorporated — San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon: 14

▪ Unincorporated — Sand Canyon: 15

▪ Unincorporated — Saugus: 131

▪ Unincorporated — Saugus/ Canyon Country: 40

▪ Unincorporated — Stevenson Ranch: 1,040

▪ Unincorporated — Val Verde: 308

▪ Unincorporated — Valencia: 178