Photo: APU GOMES / AFP / Getty Images
A few days before Thanksgiving arrives and after more than a year of confinement due to the covid pandemic – 19, many families prepare to spend time with their loved ones.
However, in the streets the environment is different especially now that an increase in covid infections has been reported – 19 among the homeless population.
The authorities County of Los Angeles announced that five homeless people have died of covid – 19 in the last week. Concern increases as crowds accumulate in shelters with the start of the winter season.
County Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed last week 101 new cases of covid – 19 among the homeless, although the majority are past cases but it was barely verified that they were homeless patients.
From the beginning pandemic, 9, 626 homeless have tested positive for the virus in the county and 255 have died.
Andy Bales, Executive Director of the Union Rescue Mission shelter in downtown Los Angeles, said the shelter is testing for covid – 19 every week and continue to encourage their guests to get vaccinated.
The shelter serves around 450 pers Ones who stay overnight, but serve many more who only come for their food. The director indicated that around 80% of employees are vaccinated and 45% of those hosted have received their vaccine.
He added that the number of vaccinated hosts is very low because this shelter is the only one in the area, in downtown Los Angeles, that houses homeless people even if they are not vaccinated. All other shelters require vaccination.
“We think we are doing a very good job of keeping them safe,” Bales said. “We are very vigilant.”
He added that in the past they have found cases where they have accepted the homeless, but when they are tested for the covid – 19 and it is positive, at that moment they take immediate action.
“From The way it works is that you first get here, take the test and if you test positive you are quarantined for five days. Then you take the test again and that is where you can go with the general population ”, said Bales.
He added that the staff always treats to protect yourself as much as you can with hand washing and the use of masks, among other security measures.
Bales indicated that for this Thanksgiving Day they are planning to cook the feast as has been done in years before the pandemic, but with the difference that they will deliver the food and a gift bag to go.
Informing the homeless of vaccines
Bales explained that they are working in collaboration with LA Christian Health Care Center, who are constantly at the shelter offering and informing the community about the regular vaccine and boosters.
“We want most people to know and get He won his vaccine, ”Bales said. However, he added that also in the homeless community there is fear of immunization due to the unknown.
Barbara Ferrer, director of the DPH, said that Because the highly communicable Delta variant continues to circulate in communities, even among the homeless, they continue to work with shelters and makeshift housing to offer services.
“Sites that provide support to the homeless are reviewing infection control protocols, ensuring isolation and quarantine capacity; in addition to efforts to vaccinate staff and guests, many of whom are eligible for boosters, ”said the director.
The county noted that winter shelters throughout the region will operate the 24 hours, which will likely lead to more overcrowding in such facilities.
In the latest data on Wednesday, the county reported 34 more deaths from covid – 19. Of the total, 19 occurred previously, but were not immediately accounted for due to a delay attributed to a technical problem that caused an undercount on Tuesday.
The new deaths brought the total death toll in the county to 26, 800. The county also reported 1, 497 additional covid cases – 19.
Approximately the 80% of Eligible County Residents of 12 years or more have received at least one dose of the vaccine and the 72% are fully vaccinated. Among the 10, 3 million county residents, including those not eligible for vaccines, the 69% have received a dose and the 62% is fully vaccinated.
With information from CNS.