As COVID-19 Transmission Continues to Increase in L.A. County, Public Health Encourages Everyone to Celebrate Independence Day Safely

5 New Deaths and 549 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) again confirms a new high of COVID-19 cases in a day since April with 549 new cases. Test positivity has more than quadrupled from the low of 0.3% seen the first week of June; today’s test positivity rate is 1.3%.

Two weeks ago, daily hospitalizations were in the low 200s. Currently, there are 280 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 26% of these people are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Public Health encourages everyone to enjoy the Independence Day holiday weekend safely as COVID-19 transmission increases in L.A. County.

With Fourth of July holiday celebrations happening this weekend, the best way to stay safe is to be fully vaccinated. If you are not vaccinated and around people outside your household, your mask offers strong protection against the virus.  If you or any friends or family are at gatherings and are unvaccinated or immunocompromised, stay outside as much as possible, and always wear masks when indoors except when eating and drinking.

Public Health recommends, as a precaution, everyone to wear masks indoors in settings where vaccination status cannot be verified to protect the unvaccinated and prevent viral transmission while more is learned about the highly transmissible Delta variant. There is enough risk and over 4 million unvaccinated residents for the Delta variant to pose a threat and masking up now could help prevent a resurgence in transmission.

Of the five new deaths reported today, one person that passed away was over the age of 80, one person who died was between the ages of 65 and 79, two people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, and one person who died was between the ages of 30 and 49. To date, Public Health identified 1,251,224 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,492 deaths. Testing results are available for nearly 7,045,000 individuals with 16% of people testing positive.

“We send our deepest condolences to everyone suffering the loss of someone they love due to COVID-19,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Whenever we see a doubling of cases and a quadrupling of test positivity over a short period of time, we are reminded of how easily the virus can spread. The three vaccines we have in the U.S. provide powerful protection against serious illness, and death from all the variants, and the commonly circulating virus. While the most important thing is to get vaccinated, it is sensible when you go indoors to a place and you don’t know everyone’s vaccination status, to put on a face covering to maximize protection for everyone. If you are not fully vaccinated, you must wear your mask in all indoor public settings.”

Beginning today, Friday, July 2 through next Thursday, July 8 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 four packages of tickets and passes to botanical gardens in the area. Each prize package consists of one annual membership to the Huntington Botanical Gardens and one-day passes to Descanso Gardens, L.A. County Arboretum, and South Coast Botanic Garden. Official rules and participating site locations is online on the Los Angeles Vaccination Sweepstakes page.

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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