The Los Angeles Post

With High Transmission Across LA County, Public Health Urges Residents to Get Vaccinated and Boosted to Avoid Serious Illness

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4,025 New Positive Cases and 6 New Deaths Due to COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

With high transmission of COVID-19, LA County is reporting the highest number of new cases since February 18. Vaccines still provide the strongest protection against the more infectious subvariants, but their effectiveness wanes over time, making it critical for residents to become fully vaccinated, if not already, and to receive their boosters, if due, against COVID-19 now.

Data continues to show that being fully vaccinated and boosted provides the best protection against hospitalization and death. In Los Angeles County, for the week ending April 22, unvaccinated individuals were five times more likely to be hospitalized compared to individuals who were fully vaccinated, which includes both boosted and unboosted individuals. And for the same time period, the likelihood of dying was 16 times higher for unvaccinated individuals compared to individuals who were fully vaccinated.

A recently published study conducted by UCSF and the California Department of Public Health provides further evidence of the effectiveness of vaccines. In this modeling study, COVID-19 vaccination was estimated to have prevented more than 1.5 million COVID-19 cases, 72,000 hospitalizations, and 19,000 deaths in California through the first 10 months of vaccination. Many more cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have been prevented by vaccines since then.

Many residents still need their first round of vaccines and boosters. As of May 8, 76% percent of residents ages five and older are fully vaccinated and 58% of those 12 years of age and older eligible for a first booster dose have received their booster. That leaves about 1.6 million eligible residents still needing to get their first vaccination and about 2.9 million booster-dose eligible residents not benefiting from the extra protection of a booster dose.

To find a nearby location offering free COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, or to schedule an appointment for a homebound resident to be vaccinated in their home, please contact our Public Health Call Center seven days a week from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm at: (833) 540-0473 or visit VaccinateLACounty.com or VacunateLosAngeles.com.

“As always, we extend our deepest sympathies to everyone mourning the loss of a loved one from COVID,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health.  “If you’re not fully vaccinated and boosted, please consider doing so now to maximize protection against the more infectious variants currently circulating. There are hundreds of mobile and fixed sites that offer free vaccines across the County, via appointment or walk in. We’re also providing vaccines and boosters at community events and pop-up vaccination clinics at community sites, partnering with schools and community-based organizations to offer vaccinations at priority school and work sites, and offering vaccines in your home for those who cannot get to a medical office or pharmacy.”

Today, Public Health reported six additional deaths and 4,025 new positive cases due to COVID. Of the six new deaths reported today, one person was between the ages of 50 and 64, three people were between the ages of 65-79, and two people were aged 80 years or older. Of the six newly reported deaths, all had underlying health conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 32,022.

Public Health has reported a total of 2,907,721 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today’s positivity rate is 2.8%.

There are 298 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 11,921,414 individuals, with 22% of people testing positive.

A wide range of data and dashboards on COVID-19 from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health are available on the Public Health website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov including:

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

Please see additional information below:

 

Total Cases

Laboratory Confirmed Cases

2,907,721

— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)

2,751,453

— Long Beach

127,076

— Pasadena

29,192

Deaths

32,022

— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)

30,342

— Long Beach

1,266

— Pasadena

414

Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

– 0 to 4

84510

– 5 to 11

244423

– 12 to 17

238776

– 18 to 29

613479

– 30 to 49

878351

– 50 to 64

454984

– 65 to 79

177342

–  over 80

57545

–  Under Investigation

2043

Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  Female

1400637

–  Male

1273723

–  Other

1210

–  Under Investigation

75883

Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  American Indian/Alaska Native

5064

–  Asian

173639

–  Black

138273

–  Hispanic/Latino

1244403

–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

13926

–  White

360529

–  Other

304914

–  Under Investigation

510705

Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  Hospitalized (Ever)***

137,895

Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  American Indian/Alaska Native

73

–  Asian

3786

–  Black

2813

–  Hispanic/Latino

15593

–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

112

–  White

7565

–  Other

310

–  Under Investigation

90