Coronavirus hospitalizations continue to drop in LA County: “We can’t afford to be complacent”

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The number of coronavirus patients in Los Angeles County hospitals fell again on Sunday, from 1,070 on Saturday to 1,053, according to state figures.

The number of these intensive care patients also declined, from 324 to 310.

The figures come a day after local health officials reported 29 new deaths and 2,130 additional cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the county’s cumulative total to 1,442,808 cases and 25,828 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Of the 29 deaths reported on Saturday, three people who died were over 80, nine were between 65 and 79, seven were between 50 and 64 and seven were between 30 and 49. Three deaths have been reported by the city of Long Beach.

Health officials said about 90% of people who died from complications from coronavirus in Los Angeles County had underlying health issues.

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Test results were available for more than 8,450,000 people, including 16% of those who tested positive. The positivity rate for Saturday’s tests was 1.3%.

“With hundreds of outreach teams and promoters spreading throughout the county, we hope that those who are not yet vaccinated get their questions answered and are connected to the vaccination sites, ”said Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer. “We cannot afford to settle for an average of 2,000 new cases. and dozens of deaths every day. In order to be better prepared for fall and winter, usually seasons when many viruses thrive, we must immediately reduce the transmission of COVID. Given the powerful tools at our disposal that we did not have last fall – rapid antigenic tests and highly effective vaccinations – the high number of cases is disturbing and reflects the inequality in vaccination coverage and screening. “

Ferrer said on Friday officials had set up the network to offer COVID-19 vaccine boosters to eligible people, adding that she was not surprised by a federal recommendation to limit recalls to older residents and those at high risk of serious illness from the virus.

During an online briefing, Ferrer said the county has 1,300 fixed vaccine sites in its network, with the overall capacity to administer 130,000 injections per day – and can quickly expand if necessary to 200,000 per day. day.