56 new deaths, 521 new positive cases

The Los Angeles County Public Health Department reported 56 new deaths from Covid-19 and 521 new positive cases on Saturday.

As the latest figures show rates of Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Los Angeles continue to decline, the new cases and deaths shared today may reflect delays in notification over the weekend.

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Today’s public health report brings LA County to a total of 1,213,784 identified cases of Covid-19 and 22,777 deaths.

At the time of writing, 827 LA County residents are hospitalized with Covid-19. 27% of these people are currently in intensive care. The test results have now been made available to more than 6 million people, with 19% of the tests positive.

21 of the people reported dead today were over 80 years old. 19 of them were between 65 and 79 years old, 13 between 50 and 64 years old and three between 30 and 49 years old.

For public health, it was important to note that younger people are the ones who continue to drive Covid-19 transmission in the county. While 93% of the deaths reported today were in people over 50, 70% of new cases were from people under that age.

“Many young people are socializing with non-household members, raising concerns that asymptomatic young people are unwittingly helping to spread the virus to more vulnerable people. While we are making good progress with our vaccination efforts, we are entering a potentially perilous time if people let their guard down, ”said Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer. “It is important that we remain disciplined in our adherence to the use of face masks, physical distancing, avoiding large gatherings and delaying all non-essential travel. This is especially important with the county’s recent move to red level and as restrictions are lifted.

The story continues

With LA County in the Red Tier of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, cinemas, museums, zoos, aquariums and indoor restaurants have been allowed to reopen at 25% capacity. Gyms, fitness centers, yoga and dance studios have been allowed to reopen at 10% capacity, with a blanking requirement for all indoor activities, while retail and personal care was allowed to increase the capacity to 50%, provided the same safety conditions were met. are respected. Indoor shopping centers were able to grow to 50% of their capacity, although common areas remain closed. Additionally, the school and higher education institutes have reopened for in-person activities, with necessary security modifications.

Currently, private gatherings involving up to three separate households are allowed indoors, if masking and social distancing are in place. During this time, fully vaccinated people can gather in small groups with others who have received both vaccines, without the need to mask themselves or to distance themselves.

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