Nearly four thousand additional people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, according to new data released by the L.A. County Department of Public Health.
In the new numbers released Thursday, 3,498 new cases were reported, bringing the to-date total in L.A. County to just over 1.3 million. The department also shared that 28 additional people have lost their lives to the virus.
With the daily case rate jumping 32 percent from last week, L.A. County’s Director of Public Health said the number of deaths is troubling.
“While the number of people dying from COVID remains relatively low, our seven-day average number of deaths is now seven,” Dr. Barbara Ferrer said, adding that the new average is higher than the seven-day average just one month ago. “These [deaths] are particularly sad given that we have so many strategies at our disposal to prevent them.”
Of the rates per 100,000 people in the county, the hospitalization and death rates are highest among unvaccinated people who are over the age of 50, according to department data.
In a press briefing Thursday, EMS Agency Director Cathy Chidester said L.A. County is in a much better position for a surge than in months past. So far, the county has not asked for assistance from the state to staff hospitals. However, Chidester said talks are underway.
"Nurses are leaving the profession," she said. "With this surge, some nurses are looking at it as not being able to do this again."
The department of health shared the following information to make clear how the vaccine protects against COVID-19.
What does it mean to be fully vaccinated?
-Less likely to get infected (3.6 times less likely, on average)
-If infected, you are much less likely to get severely ill or die (14 times less likely to be hospitalized, on average)
-Regardless of full vaccination, infected people can transmit the virus. Get tested, use caution while awning results.
Source: L.A. County Dept. of Public Health
As of Aug. 12, health officials have administered more than 11.3 million vaccines in the County. Just under half of those were second doses.
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and where to get vaccinated, click here.
