The number of county residents hospitalized with COVID-19 has nearly doubled in the past two weeks with the vast majority of cases found in unvaccinated individuals.
According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, there were 1,437 people with COVID-19 hospitalized as of August 9 compared to the 745 people that were hospitalized on July 26. Of those currently hospitalized, 92 percent were not fully vaccinated.
Officials reported an additional 2,919 new cases of COVID-19 and six deaths on Monday, however, Monday are often out of step with the rest of the week due to reporting delays caused by the weekend.
Of the six new deaths reported Monday, one person was over the age of 80, one person was between the ages of 65 and 79, three people were between the ages of 50 and 64, and one death is under investigation. To date, Public Health identified 1,329,262 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,783 deaths.
Test results for Monday had a positivity rate of 4.4 percent, down from the 6 percent reported last week.
There have been 5,626 reported in Santa Monica.
“We send our deepest condolences to everyone across our County mourning a family member or friend who has passed away due to COVID-19,” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. “The significant increase in hospitalizations is of great concern. With the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines, we are hopeful that more people will get vaccinated during this time of very high transmission. Throughout this pandemic, people who live with chronic illnesses have suffered serious outcomes of COVID-19 infection. Because chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity dramatically increase the risk of getting severely ill or dying with COVID-19 infection, vaccination is particularly important for people living with these conditions. Everyone eligible for vaccination is urged to get vaccinated, especially if you have any chronic health conditions. Please talk with your healthcare provider if you have concerns about getting vaccinated.”
Vaccine appointments are currently available for residents over the age of 12. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.
To find a vaccination site near you and make an appointment at vaccination sites, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish). If you don’t have internet access, can’t use a computer, or you’re over 65, you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home-visit if you are homebound.
County officials will host an online Town Hall on Wednesday to provide updates on COVID-19 and the County’s response. The 6 p.m. town hall will be streamed live on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube @lapublichealth. For more information and to submit a question, visit: TinyURL.com/LACountyTownHall.
editor@smdp.com
