Experts warn that an atrocious crisis is facing the heart of Los Angeles and not a lot of people are talking about it. According to data acquired, via a public documents request, since the start of the pandemic, health authorities in Los Angeles County have detected hundreds of coronavirus outbreaks at police and fire departments which means that authorities could have been one of the biggest sources of the mass spread of the virus in and around Los Angeles during full lockdown periods.
The outbreaks, which have resulted in over 2,500 coronavirus infections, have happened in both major and small public safety organizations throughout the country. More than half worked for only two agencies: the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department, both of which are aggressively battling public health efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.
According to the statistics, 112 of the 211 documented outbreaks of three or more coronavirus infections at police or fire departments in Los Angeles County between March 2020 and last month were connected to the LAPD and LAFD.
According to the statistics, the LAPD had 37 outbreaks, accounting for 1,061 cases, while the LAFD had 75 outbreaks, accounting for 553 cases.
According to the statistics, there were 18 outbreaks at the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, accounting for 334 cases, and 44 outbreaks at the L.A. County Fire Department, accounting for 211 cases.
“These numbers are simply catastrophic and could be the reason for the widespread outbreaks during full lockdown periods,” Dr. Brandon Fisch a pulmonary specialist in LA County says.
The statistics show a continuous and continuing spread of illness inside police and fire stations from the beginning of the pandemic until now, and provide an essential background to police officers and firemen’ increasing efforts to oppose measures like vaccination requirements.
Both LAPD and LAFD workers have filed lawsuits contesting a new L.A. rule requiring all personnel to get vaccinated by next month unless they are given a medical or religious exemption. Thousands more have indicated that they plan to submit an exemption application.
According to current statistics, 56 percent of LAPD officers and 58.5 percent of sworn LAFD officers have had their complete vaccinations. According to government statistics, just 68 percent of individuals 12 and older in Los Angeles County are completely vaccinated.
Since June, the majority of LAPD officers who have tested positive have been unvaccinated. The virus has claimed the lives of ten LAPD officers.
By refusing to be vaccinated or wear masks in public settings, critics have accused LAPD officers and LAFD firemen of disregarding public safety — and their sworn duty to protect it. Similar charges have been leveled against public safety personnel in other parts of the county and throughout the nation.
In response to questions about the outbreaks, both the LAPD and the LAFD stated that they are concerned about the safety of their employees, their families, and the general public and that they have taken steps to prevent outbreaks in their workplaces, including encouraging employees to get vaccinated.
When outbreaks have occurred at LAPD facilities, Capt. Stacy Spell, an LAPD spokeswoman, said the department has “ensured cleanups or decontamination efforts were made” and that affected personnel filed paperwork documenting their exposure.
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