LOS ANGELES (KNX) — The number of Los Angeles residents entering the intensive care unit (ICU) due to symptoms of COVID-19 drastically increased Tuesday, as the County reported 644 of some 4,701 hospitalized patients suffered severe illness related to the virus.
"As of [Monday], both the seven-day average of new admissions of people with COVID-19 and the total number of patients admitted into the ICU had increased from a week prior," the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement.
"Additionally, 31% of COVID confirmed patients were in the ICU and 27% [required] ventilation, which was also an increase from the week of Jan. 11...when Public Health reported 25% of COVID confirmed patients were in ICU."
While the number of Angelenos hospitalized with COVID-19 grows for at least the fourth week, the number of staff members trained to help them heal is dwindling as more health care professionals contract the virus.
"Cases among healthcare workers are also increasing, leading to staffing shortages across the healthcare system," L.A. health officials said, adding that between Jan. 7 and 13 a total of 1,268 new positive cases among healthcare workers were reported.
"This is an increase of 30% from the week of Dec. 31, when 973 positive cases were reported," the department continued.
On Tuesday, the Department of Public Health reported 37 new deaths and 22,688 new COVID cases, bringing the total amount of cases in L.A. County to more than 2.3 million.
In a statement shared Tuesday, Barbara Ferrer, the director of Public Health, said the virus' Omicron variant is behind the increased hospitalizations and ICU admissions.
"Our hearts go out to everyone mourning the loss of a loved one as we are once more witnessing the utter misery caused by COVID with more residents facing serious illness and passing away," Ferrer said.
"Let’s not fool ourselves by not recognizing the danger presented by the Omicron variant which is capable of spreading with lightning speed and causing serious illness among our most vulnerable residents."
Regardless of Omicron's quick spread, Ferrer stands by statements she's made since the first vaccines became available - saying they are the best defense against serious illness caused by COVID-19.
Aside from vaccination, the Department of Public Health once again asked the public to "do their part" in slowing the spread, by upgrading cloth face masks to medical-grade face coverings, social distancing and avoiding crowded indoor spaces.
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