1 in 7 Californians have received a dose

About one in seven Californians, 14.8%, has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, a positive sign after one of the nation’s slowest vaccination deployments began.

In California, 19.1% of residents 18 and older received at least one dose of the vaccine and 6% of all residents received both doses, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 8,243,711 doses of the vaccine were administered in California, 76% of the doses delivered, according to the state Department of Public Health.

At the same time, the seven-day average of new cases is at its lowest point since early November, at the start of a massive winter surge that has set new records for infections and deaths in the state. California counties reported 6,975 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, according to data tracked by that news agency, for a 7-day average of 5,385 new cases per day.

Los Angeles County, the largest and hardest-hit in the state, reported 1,758 new cases, San Bernardino County reported 743 cases and San Diego County 662 cases, followed by Santa Clara counties , Kern and Orange.

The number of patients hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 has also improved. As of Thursday, there were 5,590 patients, a decrease of 5.8% from the day before and a decrease of 75% from a peak in early January. There are also 1,640 patients in intensive care unit beds with confirmed cases of COVID-19, a drop of 4% from the previous day and 66% from a high in early January.

Despite increased vaccinations and falling case rates, deaths remain high in the state. Counties reported 438 deaths from COVID-19 on Thursday. The state records a seven-day average of 423 deaths per day, although that average has been increased from the more than 800 deaths that occurred in Los Angeles County between December 3 and February 3, but which were not included. in the public accounts before Wednesday.