LA homeless shelters hit by COVID outbreaks

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At the beginning of the pandemic, the city deployed hand-washing stations to several large homeless encampments. But maintenance has been spotty. Photo by Anna Scott.

Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise among people experiencing homelessness in LA County. Group shelters are having a particularly hard time controlling the spread. Since October, coronavirus positivity rates within the sheltered homeless population have gone from about 2% to 10%, according to Dr. Heidi Behforouz, chief medical officer for LA County’s Housing For Health program.