The pandemic has put public health leaders nationwide on the defensive and caused some to retire or get fired. But not L.A. County's Barbara Ferrer.
First, thanks to those of you who responded to our survey last week. If you missed it and want to share your feedback,Journalism is sometimes called the first draft of history. It’s far too early for deep, researched assessments of how Los Angeles County handled the coronavirus, but Times reporter Jaclyn Cosgrove gets things off to a running start with, the county’s public health director and one of California’s most aggressive public officials in pushing for lockdowns and business shutdowns.
Ferrer, 65, has not, and even some of her critics credit her with stable leadership, as direction and information shifted dramatically from federal, state and local leaders. But she has been pilloried too — by some as too restrictive and hurting businesses, by others as too lax and putting people at risk.
“When you have a responsibility and opportunity to help protect people’s health, and 24,000 people die,,” Ferrer told Cosgrove. “I think it’s OK for me to feel bad about it — because it’s devastating.” Ferrer pivoted and moved to improve distribution when she realized how poorly the system served the disadvantaged, who may not have the internet access, the mobility or the time to book and show up for appointments. She began to work more closely with community leaders to bring tests and vaccines directly to those communities.
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