Public Health Urges Residents to Get Vaccinated as COVID-19 Cases Increase

2 New Deaths and 422 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

 

While transmission in L.A. County remains low, L.A. County is seeing increases in cases and daily test positivity.  On June 15, the day of the full reopening, the County saw 210 new cases and the test positivity rate was around 0.5%.  Nearly two weeks after the June 15 reopening, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed a doubling of both new cases and the test positivity rate; today’s case numbers are 422 and the test positivity rate is 1.2%.

While the increase in community transmission is concerning, Public Health notes the increases are still far below the surge levels over the winter of over 15,000 new cases and the test positivity rate of 20%.

Of the two new deaths reported today, one person that passed away was over the age of 80 and one person who died was between the ages of 65 and 79. To date, Public Health identified 1,250,240 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,483 deaths.

There are 255 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 25% of these people are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).  Testing results are available for nearly 7,026,000 individuals with 17% of people testing positive.

Public Health continues to caution there is increased risk of COVID-19 infection for people who aren’t fully vaccinated because of increased intermingling and the circulation of more variants of concern like the highly transmissible Delta variant.

The best protection against COVID-19 is getting vaccinated. Public Health encourages those that are not vaccinated and are eligible to get vaccinated, to get vaccinated without delay.

If you are not vaccinated and around people outside your household, your mask offers the next best protection against the virus. With distancing requirements and capacity limits lifted in almost all settings, wearing a mask is critically important for those not yet vaccinated, including the 1.2 million children between the ages of 2 and 12.

“To the families and friends experiencing the sorrow of losing of a loved one due to COVID-19, we send our deepest condolences,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Last year, we didn’t have the vaccine and there were increases in cases and hospitalizations that occurred after the Fourth of July holiday.  This year we have three powerful vaccines but there are still about 4 million residents that are unvaccinated and at risk of COVID-19 infection. With small increases in community transmission and an increase in the circulation of the Delta variant, your best protection and the best protection for the County’s recovery are the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. And while we are increasing the number of people with vaccination protection, sensible public health precautions, including masking and hand hygiene can support our recovery.”

People who are not fully vaccinated, including all children between the ages of 2 and 12, are required to wear masks at all indoor public settings and businesses. Because of increased circulation of the highly transmissible Delta variant across the country and to protect unvaccinated residents, Public Health strongly recommends everyone, as a precautionary measure, wear masks indoors in settings (such as grocery or retail stores theaters and family entertainment centers, and workplaces) when you don’t know everyone’s vaccination status.

Through 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 Vaccination Sweepstakes page. Winners will be contacted by phone and/or email.

Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccinations are available at County-run sites, LA City run sites, almost all mobile sites and many of the community sites without an appointment. Many sites are open on weekends and have evening hours.

Visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish) to find a vaccination site near you, to make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more. 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.

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