New COVID-19 Cases Continue to Be Highest Among People Under 50; COVID-19 Deaths Highest Among People Over 50

Public Health March 20, confirmed 56 new deaths and 521 new cases of confirmed COVID-19. In total, Public Health has identified 1,213,784 cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and 22,777 deaths.

 Younger people continue to drive community transmission of COVID-19 in the County. Over 70% of the new cases today are from people under the age of 50 years old; conversely, 93% of today’s reported deaths are people who are over 50 years old. Residents between the ages of 30 and 49 years old have the highest percent of new cases at 33%, followed by residents between the ages of 18 and 29 years old, comprising 24% of all new cases. 

As COVID-19 case rates, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to decrease in L.A. County, Public Health urges residents to continue exercising caution as more sectors reopen and some activity restrictions get lifted. Because certain activities can resume or reopening protocols are revised, that does not mean that those activities are safe or without risk. The pandemic persists, and whenever there are more opportunities for interactions with people not in your household, there can be more opportunities for transmission of the virus. 

Since LA County is in the Red Tier of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, private gathering can occur indoors with up to three separate households, with masking and distancing required at all times. Outdoors is still safer than indoors. People who are fully vaccinated can gather in small numbers indoors with other people who are fully vaccinated without required masking and distancing. 

Gatherings, even with people you know who have no symptoms and have tested negative, can still result in spread of the virus to many people. The risk of spread increases when people are not diligent about consistently and correctly wearing face masks or keeping their physical distance and when people gather indoors.

Over 3 Million Doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine Administered in Los Angeles County

As of March 19, nearly 3,235,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to people across Los Angeles County. Of those vaccinated, 1,057,794 people received second doses and 25,170 people received the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 

Beginning the week of March 22 the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is expecting to receive 280,000 vaccine doses. This allocation includes approximately 6,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The County expects to receive more Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the end of the month.

For information about who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in L.A. County, how to make an appointment if it is your turn, what verifications you will need to show at your vaccination appointment, and much more, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish). Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

 Details:www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.