Date: 202006
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZLA.ARTCC, CA
Aircraft: Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class E ZLA
ATC / advisory: Center ZLA
Second aircraft: Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Departure; Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Workload
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Contributing factors: Procedure; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Airspace Structure; Staffing; Airport
Primary problem: Staffing

Narrative: We had the area combined into two sectors; although we had the staffing to have three open. I had Sectors 09; 10; 12; and 31 combined; which was a normal configuration pre-midshift before COVID; and a normal combination on a daily basis during COVID schedules. This combination tends to get pretty busy; with VFR's; military traffic; plus the IFR's; but I've been working it a lot these last few months; so I'm pretty used to it by now. We also had an FLM present in the area; sitting at the Supervisor's desk doing something on the computer.I started getting busy with aircraft after aircraft calling to pick up flight following and/or a pre-filed IFR clearance off an airport (IPL) for which we provide approach control services. First; Aircraft X called airborne off IPL; looking for his IFR clearance. I gave him his code to squawk and told him to standby and maintain VFR. Went to make sure I was caught up on all the other aircraft. Then Aircraft Z called requesting VFR flight following. I eventually got back to him after finishing up shipping other aircraft; issuing other necessary clearances; etc. Gave him his code and told him to maintain VFR and standby. Then Aircraft Y called airborne off IPL also looking for his IFR clearance. I gave him his code to squawk and told him to maintain VFR; it would be a minute; that I couldn't seem to catch up.At this point I had 15 aircraft on two frequencies. Aircraft X was a small aircraft and Aircraft Y was a slightly bigger/faster aircraft; and I recognized that the Aircraft Y may overtake Aircraft X and they were close; enough so that I didn't want to give the front Aircraft X his IFR clearance yet; especially when I was so busy and couldn't watch the two closely. I did tell Aircraft Y that restricted area was cold; and that if he could maintain VFR and start heading toward JLI [VOR]; that I would be able to give him his IFR clearance eventually direct JLI [VOR]; but this would help speed it up (Because it provided separation between Aircraft X and Aircraft Y). During this time Aircraft A was also calling me for an IFR clearance; off an airport right near IPL. I told him I was too busy and to standby. I also was trying to coordinate the activation of a MOA with adjacent sectors/facilities. The other Controller in the area noticed I was busy and asked if he could help with the MOA coordination.I gave Aircraft Y his IFR clearance direct JLI [VOR] then as filed; maintain 10;000. I had 4 data blocks (Aircraft Y; Aircraft B; Aircraft C; Aircraft X) within a 5.5NM area; working on a range where I'm watching more than 200 miles of airspace. I gave Aircraft X his IFR clearance; turning him to a heading of 285; in preparation for the required LOA handoff to the Approach Control; climbing to 100. I'm not sure why I didn't see Aircraft Y leaving 077 for 100 when I gave Aircraft X his turn (from about a 255 heading) to H285 and clearance leaving 081 for 100; other than I was getting frazzled from being so busy and not being able to catch up; and having the 4 data blocks right close to one another. Conflict alert went off and as soon as I saw it; I turned Aircraft Y to a H315 and Aircraft X to a H255.I want to be very clear that I didn't directly ask the FLM for help; and I know I have a responsibility to do so. But I suspect that if close attention was being paid to what was going on in the area (there were two controllers in the area with two sectors open - there was nothing else happening that would have been drawing their attention away). I said multiple times out loud on frequency that I was busy; that I couldn't catch up; etc; which drew the other Controller in the area's attention to my workload; but the FLM never came over to see if I needed help or to act as an extra set of eyes to get me through this period. I believe if the FLM had noticed and either came over to at least watch over my shoulder as an extra set of eyes; this might have been prevented. It was too late to call another Controller back; I was too busy to separate the sectors. Or...they should have just had three sectors open since my sector(s) were busy and we had the staffing to do so.




Synopsis: ZLA Center Controller reported losing separation due to traffic volume; watching too large of an area and the COVID-19 configuration.