Unvaccinated black Angelenos have the highest COVID rates

Los Angeles County reported 28 new deaths from the coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the total number of deaths across the county to 26,308 since the start of the pandemic, with a total of reported infections of around 1.5 million.

Black and Latino residents who are not vaccinated have the highest rate of COVID-19 infections in Los Angeles County, while unvaccinated white residents have the highest death rates, the Department of Justice said. public health.

Between late August and late September, unvaccinated black and Latino residents of LA County together had a rate of about 590 cases per 100,000 population, the county said in a press release.

Black residents had 62 hospitalizations per 100,000 unvaccinated people, the highest hospitalization rate, 27% higher than that of Latinos, the county said.

The press release did not specify the death rates for different ethnic groups, but said white residents had the highest rates, closely followed by black and Latino residents. In raw numbers, the county reported, the virus has killed an estimated 13,200 Latinos, 5,800 whites, 3,300 Asians and 2,200 blacks.

This week, Los Angeles County imposed rules requiring adults to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter certain indoor locations, including bars and nightclubs. People must prove that they have received at least one dose and be fully immunized by November 4.

Also this week, the Los Angeles City Council passed its own ordinance requiring proof of vaccination to enter indoor places such as restaurants, cafes and gyms within city jurisdiction, rules that will come into effect in November.

Over the summer, an analysis of Los Angeles Times data found that COVID-19 has killed people in southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area, which have the highest vaccination rates. state highs, at rates far lower than rural California counties with low immunization. rates.

Analysis showed that the summer Delta variant wave struck with particular ferocity in Northern California and the San Joaquin Valley, where less than half of residents are fully vaccinated.

The state reported on Saturday that there have been 69,507 deaths from COVID-19 so far, and says unvaccinated Californians are seven times more likely to be infected than fully vaccinated Californians.