As Several COVID Metrics Decline, LA County Residents Are Reminded to Take Steps to Reduce Risk and Spread

18,822 New Positive Cases and 36 New Deaths Due to COVID-19 in Los Angeles 

Several LA County COVID-19 metrics are showing decline, including daily cases, daily case rate, positivity rate, and hospitalizations. Although these declines are a positive sign, residents should not take them as an indication to forgo common sense protective measures that will allow these declines to continue. Utilizing public health safety measures will drive down cases, which will ultimately end staffing shortages, reduce workplace and school outbreaks, and most importantly, keep residents from getting seriously ill and dying.

Two weeks ago on January 11th, LA County reported 34,827 new cases, two days after seeing the highest number of new cases since the pandemic began. Public Health is reporting 18,822 new cases today. While this is still a high number of cases, it represents a 46% drop in new cases in two weeks. Over the same time period, the daily rate of cases per 100,000 residents also decreased by 20% and the daily positivity rate decreased by 30%.

Additionally, the number of residents getting seriously ill and needing hospitalization has also begun to decline. As hospitalizations lag cases, the number of people hospitalized peaked on January 20th at 4,814 and have slowly declined since, with 4,554 people currently hospitalized. While this decline is small and just beginning, we are hopeful with a reduced number of cases, the number of people hospitalized will continue to go down.

It is also important to recognize that while these declines are cause for hopefulness, the number of people dying from COVID-19 is unfortunately increasing, as deaths typically lag increases in cases and hospitalizations. Over the past two weeks, deaths have increased by 140% from 15 deaths reported on January 11th to 36 deaths reported today. Sadly, the number of people dying is expected to continue to increase for the next several weeks.

“I know so many are mourning the loss of a loved one and I send my heartfelt condolences and wishes for healing,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “While we are finally turning a corner on this surge, we will need to remain cautious in order to reduce transmission to a low enough level that it poses less risk for those most vulnerable and less risk for our recovery journey. We are in a different place today because we have more effective tools for managing transmission, and these tools allow us to use different strategies for getting through this surge. Even during the surge, it’s been possible to continue many of our customary activities if we layer in all of the protections now available and take personal responsibility for recognizing our role in reducing transmission, protecting those we love, and protecting those most vulnerable.”

Today, Public Health confirmed 36 additional deaths and 25,784 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 27 new deaths reported today, one person was between the ages of 18 and 29, three people were between the ages of 30 and 49, four were between the ages of 50 and 64, eight were between the ages of 65-79, and 15 were over the age of 80 years old. Of the 36 newly reported deaths, 25 had underlying conditions. Information on the five deaths reported by the City of Long Beach is available at www.LongBeach.gov To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 28,540.

Public Health has identified a total 2,540,075 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today’s positivity rate is 13.8%.

There are 4,554 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 10,928,600 individuals, with 21% of people testing positive.

To keep workplaces and schools open, residents and workers are asked to:

Adhere to masking requirements when indoors or at crowded outdoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status.

Remain home when sick, isolate if positive and quarantine when in close contact.

Residents are legally required to be isolated if they have a positive COVID test result and are vaccinated.  Close contacts with symptoms and unvaccinated close contacts need to be quarantined.

For updated isolation and quarantine guidance, please visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and are recommended for everyone 5 years old and older to help protect against COVID-19. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status. Appointments are not needed at all Public Health vaccination sites and many community sites where first, second, and third doses are available.

To find a vaccination site near you, or to make an appointment, please visit:

www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) or www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish).

If you need assistance, you can also call 1-833-540-0473 for help:

Finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or Schedule a home visit if you are homebound.

For more information regarding COVID-19 in LA County you can also visit the Public Health website at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov here you will find information on:

COVID-19 sector protocols & best practices,

COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboards, and

COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive and, Recovery Dashboards

Please see additional information below:

Cases through 12:00pm 01/24/2022
	Total Cases	NEW
Laboratory Confirmed Cases	2,540,075	18822
— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)*	2,402,715	16726
— Long Beach	112,444	1973
— Pasadena	24,916	123
Deaths	28,540	36
— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)	27,053	31
— Long Beach	1,109	5
— Pasadena	378	0
Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
– 0 to 4	71119
– 5 to 11	204278
– 12 to 17	203226
– 18 to 29	546180
– 30 to 49	773244
– 50 to 64	400609
– 65 to 79	152921
–  over 80	49522
–  Under Investigation	1616
Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
–  Female	1220027
–  Male	1114851
–  Other	887
–  Under Investigation	66950
Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
–  American Indian/Alaska Native	4257
–  Asian	135803
–  Black	121415
–  Hispanic/Latino	1110622
–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	12212
–  White	305196
–  Other	260612
–  Under Investigation	452598
Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
–  Hospitalized (Ever)	121546	**DATA  Under reported
Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
–  American Indian/Alaska Native	64
–  Asian	3461
–  Black	2455
–  Hispanic/Latino	14189
–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	97
–  White	6510
–  Other	228
–  Under Investigation	49