Although Los Angeles County COVID-19 cases and hospitalization numbers are improving, transmission remains high, with increased risk for the elderly, the unvaccinated, people with serious health conditions, and workers in close contact with others.
At the start of the week, the average number of daily new cases was 5,332, an 11% decrease from one week ago when the average number of daily new cases reported was 6,014.
Hospitalizations have also slightly decreased. Since July 27, the average number of COVID-positive patients per day in LA County hospitals was 1,225, a small decrease from one week ago when the average number of COVID-positive patients per day was 1,262.
Additionally, using county hospital data with a one-day lag, the daily hospital admission rate remains below 10 new admissions at 9.7 new admissions per 100,000 people; if the hospital admission rate remains below 10 new daily admissions through Thursday, LA County will be moved from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) High Community Level to the Medium Community Level.
Deaths, which typically lag hospitalizations by several weeks, remain stable, with an average of 16 deaths reported per day this past week, compared to an average of 15 deaths one week ago.
Although transmission is declining, residents at elevated risk for severe illness should they become infected and those who care for them, should wear well-fitting, high filtration masks or respirators in indoor settings. Because those who test positive can easily infect others in their homes, at work, and in the community, and some of those they infect may go on to experience moderate or severe illness, isolating away from others when positive, even if experiencing mild illness, is very important.
Anyone testing positive is required to remain isolated from others for a minimum of five days; if symptoms are resolving and a test taken on day five or later is negative, the person can exit isolation. Those exiting isolation after day five should continue to wear a well-fitting mask whenever around others.
With many testing at home and results not reported to Public Health, those who test positive should notify anyone they were in close contact with in the 48 hours prior to their positive test result or COVID symptoms, whichever was first. Close contacts should monitor themselves for symptoms and wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days from their last exposure to the confirmed case.
Visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov for a list of testing sites.
