As Los Angeles heads into the latter half of summer, the LA County Department of Public Health is nudging residents toward a resurgence of vigilance in light of climbing COVID-19 figures, reminiscent of a tune we've grown all too familiar with over the past years. Per the official update, there's been a doubling of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and the percent positivity rate over the last month.
The recent spike is underlined by a jump to an average of 452 daily reported COVID-19 cases, a significant rise from the 229 cases noted a month prior; officials point to the ubiquity of at-home testing, a bulk of which goes unrecorded.
While cases and wastewater stats paint one part of the pandemic landscape, hospitalizations due to the virus have also done a worrisome upturn to an average of 81.6 new admissions a day, doubling from 41.4 admissions just four weeks ago. The LA County Public Health's latest numbers peg average daily COVID-19 hospitalizations at 389, with 10% of these patients struggling in intensive care units. Deaths, while presently stable at a daily average of 1.9, may lag in revealing the virus's true toll, as there's typically a delay in the receipt of death certificates and the natural progression of the disease itself.
Public health officials are putting their bets on prevention, yet again emphasizing vaccinations as the frontline defense against COVID-19's worst effects, with plans to roll out an updated 2024-2025 vaccine this fall catering to all ages six months and older. In the meantime, additional doses of the last season's vaccine remain available, particularly for those over 65, who are encouraged to take these additional shots four months post their prior jab, as stated by the LA County Department of Public Health.
With testing still a key strategy in managing spread, health authorities continue to advise residents to get tested if exhibiting symptoms or if exposure to the virus is suspected. For those needing further assistance or information on how to navigate this persistent pandemic, the Public Health InfoLine remains at the service of the community seven days a week.
