New COVID-19 Cases Nears 2,000; High Vaccination Rates and Masking Protect Skilled Nursing Facilities

1,821 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County and 5 Deaths

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) confirms 1,821 new cases of COVID-19; nearly 8,500 new cases in the last five days have been confirmed in L.A. County.

Today’s test positivity rate is 4.8%; the rate was 2.0% two weeks ago.

The number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 illness continues to increase each day. There are 544 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 22% of these people are in the ICU. Two weeks ago, there were 273 people hospitalized with COVID-19 illness.

Of the five new deaths reported today, three people that passed away were between the ages of 65 and 79, one person who passed was between the ages of 50 and 64, and one person who passed was between the ages of 30 and 49. To date, Public Health identified 1,270,886 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,587 deaths. Testing results are available for nearly 7,190,000 individuals with 16% of people testing positive.

Masking for everyone while indoors, regardless of vaccination status, is required in all indoor public places, venues, gatherings, and businesses (including offices, retail, restaurants, gyms, theaters, family entertainment centers, meetings, and state and local government offices serving the public). Standard exceptions apply for children under the age of two, for those with certain medical conditions or disabilities that prevent masking, and for those whose job doesn’t permit masking.

With COVID-19 increasing across L.A. County communities, there has been a small increase in cases among staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities. Masks have consistently been required in all healthcare settings, including long term care facilities regardless of vaccination status and 85% of staff and residents are fully vaccinated. Nonetheless, in part due to breakthrough cases among those fully vaccinated, for the week ending July 11, 25 people tested positive for COVID-19; 3 new cases among residents and 22 new cases among staff.  For the previous weeks, an average of 16 new cases were reported among staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities.

“I send my deepest sympathies to everyone mourning a loved one lost to COVID-19,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Most of the illness and death experienced among L.A. County residents from COVID-19 is preventable because of the vaccines current availability.  And while the vaccines are not perfect at preventing all infections and illness, they continue to offer a powerful tool for reducing transmission.  Adding masking for everyone indoors provides an additional layer of protection to counter the very infectious Delta variant. And while it is disappointing that we are again witnessing a surge in cases, compliance with the new mask directive and increasing vaccination rates provide us with strategies for getting back to low rates of transmission.”

Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccinations are widely available throughout L.A. County and many sites are open on weekends and have evening hours.

Through Thursday, 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 seven packages of tickets to family fun at the Staples Center, including performances by the Harlem Globetrotters, Disney on Ice, and the Gold Over America tour starring Simone Biles. Official rules and participating site locations are posted online on the Los Angeles County Vaccination Sweepstakes page. Winners will be contacted by phone and/or email.

To find a vaccination site near you, 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.

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