The Los Angeles Post

COVID-19 Transmission Metrics Remain Stable in LA County as Hospitalizations Fall to Record Low

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In Los Angeles County, COVID-19 transmission metrics remain stable for the seventh consecutive week as COVID-19 hospitalizations fell to a record low, according to data released by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health).

This week, Public Health reports 1,544 new COVID-19 cases, a decrease from the 1,741 cases reported last week, bringing the total number of reported COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County to more than 3.7 million over the course of the pandemic. Cases are an undercount, due to the large number of at-home COVID test results that are not reported to Public Health.

For the third week in a row, wastewater concentrations of SARS CoV-2, the virus that results in a COVID-19 infection, are at 8 percent of the most recent winter peak, indicating that, although transmission is still occurring, there is low concern for rapid spread of the virus at this time. Wastewater concentrations provide more accurate information about COVID-19 transmission levels than reported cases alone.

Meanwhile, current hospitalization levels for COVID-19 are the lowest recorded since the beginning of the pandemic. The 7-day average number of daily COVID-19 hospitalizations in Los Angeles County is 211, a nominal decrease from 214 one week ago. As of this week, 11 percent of hospitalized COVID patients were in intensive care units. On average, there are 39 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per day, with 3 percent of all admissions being people under 18 years old.

COVID-19 deaths also remain relatively low. Public Health is reporting 13 new COVID-19 deaths this week, with nine of the 13 deaths occurring in people over 65 years old, highlighting one of the ways older people continue to be more vulnerable to COVID-19.

For residents who are concerned that they or a loved one have been exposed to COVID-19 or are seeking resources for increased protection, many options remain available in Los Angeles County. The Public Health Call Center is open seven days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The free service will connect callers with a person who can answer their questions, coordinate free telehealth care to receive COVID-19 treatment, and help make a vaccination appointment, including for people who are homebound. The number is 1-833-540-0473.

COVID-19 testing is still recommended, especially for anyone who suspects they have been exposed to COVID-19 or for people who are visiting someone who is more vulnerable to severe illness from a COVID infection, including those who are older or immunocompromised. Free tests are available throughout Los Angeles County and at local pharmacies through most insurance plans. More information is available at ph.lacounty.gov/COVIDtests.

“To those who have lost someone to COVID-19, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies. I hope you find peace and healing in the days ahead,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “The LA County metrics are reassuring, especially when compared to the last three summers when we experienced increases in transmission and hospitalizations in July. This may reflect, in part, the effectiveness of our tools against the Omicron strains currently circulating.  Vaccines, tests, and therapeutics continue to provide powerful protection against COVID-19.   Even during times of low transmission, given the elevated risks for some and the prevalence of long COVID, these tools allow us to take sensible precautions and  feel comfortable enjoying summer events, friends, and family.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has replaced COVID-19 Community Levels with Hospital Admission Levels, which can help individuals and communities decide which prevention actions they can take based on the most recent information. Los Angeles County is in the Low Hospital Admission Level with 3.0 weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, reported on July 10 for the seven-day period ending July 1.

Public Health reports COVID-19 data weekly. The following table shows case, wastewater, emergency department, hospitalization, and death data in Los Angeles County over the past four weeks.  All metrics remain stable at levels of low concern.

Metric

Date of Weekly Report

7/12/2023

7/5/2023

6/28/2023

6/21/2023

Weekly cases reported1,2

1,544

1,741

1,794

1,817

SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentration as a percentage of the Winter 2022-2023 peak concentration value3

8%

8%

8%

10%

7-day average of the percent of Emergency Department (ED) encounters classified as coronavirus-related3,4

2.4%

2.0%

2.4%

2.6%

7-day average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations3,4

211

214

233

242

Weekly deaths reported2

13

29

28

25

1) Case counts are an underrepresentation of the true number of infections, largely due to home tests which are not reported to DPH. Despite this, the trend in reported case counts from week to week is still an indicator of overall trends in transmission.

2) Weekly case and death counts represent the number of cases and deaths reported for the week ending each Tuesday. The date a case/death is reported by DPH is not the same as the date of testing or death. Starting the week of 7/5/23, weekly reported case counts do not include Long Beach and Pasadena. For the week of 7/5/23 only, weekly reported death counts do not include Long Beach.

3) Time periods covered by each metric: wastewater = week ending each Saturday, with a one-week lag; ED data = week ending each Sunday; hospitalizations = week ending each Saturday.

4) Data for past weeks is subject to change in future reports.

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/COVIDdata including:

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

Cases through 12:00pm 7/10/2023

 

Total Cases

Laboratory Confirmed Cases (includes LB and Pas through 6/27/23; excludes LB and Pas after 6/27/23)

3,758,955

Deaths (includes LB and Pas)

36,547

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

– 0 to 4

112,443

– 5 to 11

283,393

– 12 to 17

278,080

– 18 to 29

760,582

– 30 to 49

1,138,426

– 50 to 64

617,594

– 65 to 79

266,732

–  over 80

94,149

–  Under Investigation

2,563

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

–  Female

1,834,545

–  Male

1,628,445

–  Other

1,851

–  Under Investigation

89,121

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

–  American Indian/Alaska Native

6,736

–  Asian

265,096

–  Black

187,076

–  Hispanic/Latino

1,517,492

–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

17,793

–  White

493,996

–  Other

408,770

–  Under Investigation

657,003

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

–  Hospitalized (Ever)

179,457

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

–  American Indian/Alaska Native

80

–  Asian

4,524

–  Black

3,256

–  Hispanic/Latino

16,927

–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

117

–  White

9,257

–  Other

423

–  Under Investigation

90