Using data from the Department of Health, the Los Angeles Times reported that 490 companies are being investigated for outbreaks, compared to 173 a month ago.
Since the start of the pandemic, six outbreaks have been reported to the county at Food 4 Less locations, three of which were first recorded this month. An outbreak is defined as three or more cases among staff within a two week period.
New outbreaks were also reported in December at three Trader Joe locations, two Whole Foods locations and three Sprouts Farmers Market branches, the outlet reports.
An analysis by the LA Times this month also found a jump in outbreaks at other key businesses that stayed open during the pandemic, including banks, pharmacies and hardware stores.
LA County traverses 600,000 cases, 8,800 deaths in the fastest acceleration phase of a pandemic
The outbreaks come as the region sees an unprecedented number of coronavirus infections, marked by a pandemic breakthrough with the rollout of vaccines.
Once those groups are vaccinated, the priority will shift to intermediate and home care workers, community health workers, public health field workers and workers in primary care, correctional facilities and emergency care clinics. Lab technicians, dentists, and pharmacy personnel will be next.
Thereafter, priority will shift to people aged 75 and over, along with key workers, including first responders, teachers, school workers, day care workers, factory workers, prison workers, postmen, public transportation, food and agricultural workers and grocery store workers.
The following are people 65 and older, along with people 16 and older who have serious underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk for serious illness.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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