COVID-19 Testing Remains Essential in L.A. County

5 New Deaths and 336 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 5 new deaths and 336 new cases of COVID-19.  Of the five new deaths reported today, two people that passed away were over the age of 80 and three people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79.

To date, Public Health identified 1,248,737 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,470 deaths. There are 224 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 29% of these people are in the ICU.

Testing results are available for more than 6,990,000 individuals with 17% of people testing positive. Today’s daily test positivity rate is 0.8%.

It is important to get tested for COVID-19 infection if you develop symptoms, even if you are fully vaccinated. Testing is also recommended for unvaccinated people who have been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed COVID-19 infection or who has had a potential exposure. COVID-19 testing remains widely available across the county.

Testing is an important tool to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks, however testing alone will not stop the spread of COVID-19. Identifying cases early provides an opportunity to contain outbreaks before they spread using contact tracing, isolation and quarantine directives, workplace mitigation strategies, targeted vaccination strategies, and alignment of appropriate resources, including County mobile teams and community health workers to get in quickly, to reduce any chances that outbreaks will spread.

“To everyone who has lost a family member or friend to COVID-19, our deepest sympathies go out you,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Now that we have reopened and safety modifications have been lifted in most settings, we must continue to increase vaccinations. While COVID-19 deaths have dropped dramatically in L.A. County, the deaths that continue to occur are almost 100% among unvaccinated adults. Ninety-nine percent of individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in L.A. County since January have been unvaccinated. While masking and distancing remain effective means for reducing transmission, the most powerful tool we have for keeping cases down and protecting ourselves and others are the COVID-19 vaccines.”

Beginning today, Friday, June 25 through next Thursday, July 1 at County-run vaccination sites, LA City sites, and St. John’s Well Child and Family Center sites, everyone 18 and older coming to get a vaccine will have an opportunity to win one of two packages, each containing season passes to Six Flags, the LA Zoo, the Natural History Museum and the La Brea Tar Pits, and ticket packs to the California Science Center.  Official rules and participating site locations are posted online on the Los Angeles County Vaccination Sweepstakes page.

Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated. To find a vaccination site near you, to make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish). If you don’t have internet access, can’t use a computer, or you’re over 65, you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home-visit if you are homebound.  Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

COVID-19 Sector Protocols, Best Practices, COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Recovery Dashboard, and additional actions you can take to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

Please see additional information below: