COVID-19 Neighborhood Profiles: Young Adults in University Park
These neighborhood profiles highlight the intersections of COVID-19 and other social and economic indicators in specific neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles County. They are a feature of the NDSC COVID-19 Dashboard.
According to recent press statements issued by Los
Angeles County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer, there has been
explosive growth in COVID-19 cases amongst young adults ages 18 to 29. While
this age group makes up 18% of the county’s total population, they account for
25% of all confirmed COVID-19 cases, and now make up more than twice the
proportion of all hospitalizations than they did in April.
University Park is a neighborhood adjacent to Downtown
LA that encompasses the University of Southern California and the neighboring
area. As of August 26th, the area currently has 710 confirmed COVID-19 cases and a
14-day growth rate of 49 cases. While cases in the area are lower than other parts of
the city and county that are experiencing larger outbreaks, the area is heavily
populated with demographic populations that are currently seeing explosive
growth. While only 10% of LA County’s population is between the ages of 18 and
24, 60% of University Park’s population is between the ages of 18 and 24; 14%
of the area’s population is between ages 25 and 34. Further, of the population
between ages 18 and 24, 93% are currently enrolled in either a public or
private school and/or university. This is dramatically higher than the LA county average,
where just shy of 50% of the population between ages 18 and 24 are currently
enrolled in school.
The map the below shows the Age Distribution of confirmed COVID-19 cases alongside the age distribution of the University Park population and Los Angeles County.
USC began the semester on August 17th with
classes almost entirely online and with limited access to campus. Even with
remote learning, however, many students are returning to the area to keep their
leases in private apartments and off-campus housing. The university has set up
a number of Pop testing sites, which administer tests to asymptomatic persons,
and has set up contact tracing to monitor exposure. Just one week into the fall
semester, 43 COVID-19 cases were confirmed and more than 100 students were placed
in quarantine due to exposure, according to a recent Community Health Advisory.