Southern California’s Ten Local Health Departments Send An Urgent Holiday Message To Stay Home and Stay Safe

As a coalition of 10 neighboring California local health departments, we thank everyone for doing their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19. As the first doses of the vaccine are being administered across our communities, we can finally see a ray of light at the end of the tunnel. As that light gets closer, we are hopeful that we are one step closer to getting back to doing the things and seeing the people we all miss the most. 

In spite of this good news, we know that the next few weeks and months are critical. We are now experiencing the worst time of the pandemic. Our case counts, deaths, and hospitalizations are the highest we have seen so far. Our ICU capacity is the lowest. We are breaking records every day, and not in a good way. Our systems are being overwhelmed, and the virus is spreading everywhere.

The impacts of this pandemic are starkest among our community members most vulnerable to this virus, including our older adult family and friends, our community members working essential jobs to ensure we all have the basic goods that we need, and those living in our communities who have the least opportunities for health. The pandemic has taken a large toll and exacerbated health impacts within these communities. We cannot continue on our current path without facing serious consequences for our families, friends, and the local businesses that make our communities such special places to live.