COVID-19 Numbers Escalate At Rapid Pace In Manhattan Beach

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — In four days, Manhattan Beach was hit with an additional 29 positive tests for COVID-19, confirming that the city's statistics for the Novel Coronavirus are on the upswing in a more dramatic fashion than ever before. On Saturday, Dec. 13, the city had 615 positive test cases since Los Angeles County began collecting data in March. The number now stands at 644 as of the latest update yesterday [Wednesday, Dec. 16].

In a snapshot provided in a COVID-19 update email from the City of Manhattan Beach yesterday, the city experienced its highest increase to date in a one-week time span the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 6 when 59 new cases were reported. The following week, Dec. 7-13, the city reported 45 new cases.

Many Manhattan Beach residents have told Manhattan Beach Patch they are aware of neighbors who have been holding indoor and outdoor gatherings rather regularly since the Thanksgiving weekend during a time when government and medical professionals have been advising and asking them not to in an effort to minimize the current expected Winter surge from the Novel Coronavirus.

The two Providence hospitals — Little Company of Mary Medical Centers in Torrance and San Pedro — are also experiencing a huge surge in coronavirus cases. As of yesterday [Wednesday, Dec. 16], the Torrance medical center had 113 COVID-19 positive patients and the San Pedro location had 31, compared to mid-April when the cumulative number for both hospitals was 86. "... so we are well above our highest total during this pandemic," said Andrew Werts, director, communications for Providence.

"All our Providence hospitals are seeing escalating numbers of patients with COVID," he told Manhattan Beach Patch. "Today [Wednesday, Dec. 16], we have more than 1,100 patients across our region’s 11 hospitals compared to:

• 250 in March
• 330 in May
• 420 in July."

"At this point, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance is managing well," he noted, "thanks to our incredible nurse and support teams across the hospital. As needed, we are able to convert rooms for ICU use; we shift staff from slower departments to the busier areas and, because we are part of a larger organization, we will have access to temporary contract nursing if that becomes necessary. Fortunately, we have the PPE we need, and should supplies run low, we share among our sister hospitals.

"We are, however, concerned that this will get worse before it gets better and urge the public to please follow all the recommended safety guidelines," he said.

"We need every resident to protect our essential workers by playing by rules," said LA County Department of Public Health in a news release. "This means always wear a face covering and keep distance from others, no crowding, frequent handwashing, and limiting all non-essential activities."

The county also said, "Initial allocations of COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in Los Angeles County. As of today, all nine designated sites received their allotment of the almost 83,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Each of these nine prepositioned sites worked with Public Health and EMS to arrange for the redistribution of vaccines so that every acute care hospital across Los Angeles County that treats COVID-19 patients receive a pro-rata share of this initial allocation.

"As of today, acute care hospitals are beginning or will soon begin the process of administering the vaccinations to their staff at highest risk of exposure. The first round of COVID-19 vaccines in LA County are appropriately going to the heroes in this pandemic – the frontline healthcare workers who have been putting themselves at risk each day to care for others."

As the vaccination rollout continues, other workers are concerned about their health impacts. Teachers, many of whom have been called back to teach on campus in an in-person environment, are asking that school districts consider not returning to in-person learning in January until after the surge is over.

Shawn Chen, president of the Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers Association and a teacher at Mira Costa High School, told Manhattan Beach Patch of a teacher having to quarantine through Dec. 24 due to an infected student whose guardian entered incorrect information into the daily screening system adult guardians are asked to use before sending their child to school each day. The tool, Ruvna, claims to offer "Remarkably intuitive COVID-19 screening, tracking, and notifications for K-12 schools and districts." on its website. The Manhattan Beach Unified School District is using the tool as a way to screen students to determine who should come to school and who should not on a given day. She also relayed a story of a distance learning only student who had tested positive for COVID-19 telling his classmates that he was going skiing that day because he could socially distance.

Anecdotal accounts like that fuel the fire of concern amongst educators. In a letter sent to LA County Public Health officials Dr. Barbara Ferrer and Dr. Muntu Davis by the California Teachers Association Bay Valley Regional Resource Center and signed by the presidents of 24 area teachers associations and affiliated organizations, presents data points to show why they believe students should not be back in classrooms for in-person learning.

The letter posits, "Of note, the number of new cases for children age 0 to 11 combined is larger at 2,449 new cases compared to the 2,116 new cases for children aged 12 to 17. Although these appear to be simple case numbers without any attribution to spread of the virus, the simple fact that there are more cases of children under 11 acquiring the virus than those aged 12 and over erodes the theory that children under 10 are at less risk.

"Much of the basis for this theory that children under 10 do not acquire or spread the virus seems to stem from the WHO Coronavirus Update 39, 'What we know about Covid-19 transmission in schools' report dated 21 October 2020. We note two significant concerns regarding this report. First, footnote 1 which is the basis for the reports claims about risk to children under 10, is data from South Korea acquired from contact tracing conducted between January 20, 2020 and March 27, 2020 (page 29). It goes without saying that South Korea is much more prepared to cope with a pandemic than the United States."

Letter signers include Chen as well as educational groups from El Segundo, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Lawndale, Palos Verdes, Wiseburn, Inglewood, Lennox, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica-Malibu, Hawthorne, Ocean Charter, La Canada, Glendale, South Pasadena, Burbank and others.

According to the latest COVID Dashboard update provided by MBUSD with numbers from Tuesday, Dec. 15, new COVID-19 positive tests have been confirmed for a student at Meadows Elementary and a student at Pacific Elementary schools. No new reports of staff infected by COVID-19 have come in since the previous dashboard update.

LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn has sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Department of Public Health, and the Center for Disease Control calling for teachers and school personnel to be prioritized to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

“If it was ever up for debate before, this pandemic has made it clear once and for all that our classroom teachers are essential,” said Supervisor Hahn. “We need teachers back in their classrooms. They are essential to our kids, our families, and our economy. Our vaccine distribution plan should reflect that fact.”

Phase 1B of the vaccine distribution plan will include essential workers. Supervisor Hahn is asking that teachers and school personnel be considered essential workers in this Phase 1B category and that they are included in the 1st tier of this phase.

“We need to reopen our schools, and that means vaccinating our teachers as soon as possible,” explained Supervisor Hahn.