L.A. County in Much Better Place Than Last Independent Day Yet Caution is Still Needed as Cases Rise

7 New Deaths and 644 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

Last Independence Day, July 4, 2020, Los Angeles County was in a completely different place with an average of 2,000 new daily cases and 1900people hospitalized with COVID-19 illness. Two weeks after the fourth of July celebrations, cases increased nearly 40% and hospitalizations rose nearly 20%. The spike in infections, was attributed to gatherings and travel over the long holiday weekend.

This fourth of July, the County is in a much better place with significantly lower rates of transmission; this past week saw an average of 500 new daily cases and less than 300 COVID-related daily hospitalizations. Thanks to three very effective vaccines and over 5 million fully vaccinated residents, customary celebrations and gatherings are able to occur throughout the county as we celebrate the country’s Independence Day.

And while the tools we have to prevent transmission, hospitalizations and deaths are effective and powerful, the rise in COVID-19 variants, and in particular, the Delta variant, are fueling a rapid increase in new cases, primarily among those not yet vaccinated. The Delta variant is especially concerning because it appears to be more contagious and may cause more severe infections than other COVID variants. With 4 million unvaccinated residents in L.A. County and a tripling of cases over the past week, there is enough risk for the Delta variant to pose a significant threat.

While emerging data affirms that fully vaccinated people are well protected from severe infections with Delta variants, people with only one vaccine are not as well protected, and there is increasing evidence that a very small number of fully vaccinated individuals can become infected and may be able to infect others. Continuing to wear face coverings when indoors with persons who are not vaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown adds a prudent layer of additional protection against the virus; masking up now can help prevent a resurgence in transmission.

This weekend, we encourage you to celebrate Independence Day with friends and family in a safe and responsible manner. If you are not vaccinated and around people outside your household, a face 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.

Today, Public Health is reporting 7 new deaths and 644 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 7 new deaths reported today, one person that passed away was over the age of 80, three people who died were 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 1,251,848 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,498 deaths. There are 275 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 26% of these people are in the ICU. Testing results are available for over 7,053,000 individuals with 16% of people testing positive. Today’s daily test positivity rate is 1.3%.

“To the families that are mourning their loved one who has passed away from COVID-19, we mourn with you as holidays can be especially difficult,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “We are grateful to everyone for the tremendous progress we have made over the past year, yet we are not out of the woods just yet. If you plan to gather with others this holiday, please take sensible precautions to avoid transmission of the virus, particularly if you are gathering with individuals and children not yet vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, consider getting your vaccination now to increase your protection as other public health precautions have been lifted; talk to a friend or loved one who has been vaccinated and ask them about their experience. Vaccines provide us with the best tool for ending this pandemic that has plagued us for so many months.”

Everyone traveling this holiday weekend is urged to follow all national public health travel, testing, and quarantine guidelines. Please do not travel if you are sick, you have a recent positive COVID-19 viral test result, or you are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 viral test after being exposed to the virus.

Through next Thursday, July 8 at county-run vaccination sites, L.A. 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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