Public Health Monitors Increases in New Cases and Delta Variant Cases; Nearly 60% of L.A. County Residents Fully Vaccinated

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health or Public Health July 1, confirmed the highest number of COVID-19 cases in a day since mid-April with 506 new cases. This is more than a doubling of new cases in two weeks.

The County’s daily test positivity rate is 1.2%, an increase from last week’s rate of 0.7%. The daily average case rate is 2.19 cases per 100,000 people, also an increase from last week’s rate of 1.74 cases per 100,000. 

With the recent rise in cases, tracking the proliferation of variants of concern remains a high priority as Public health seeks to better understand the factors that may be contributing to increased community transmission. Public Health is watching particularly closely for Delta variants, which were first detected in India, and are now estimated to comprise more than 26% of U.S. cases.

Between last week and this week, the number Delta variants sequenced doubled to reach a total of 245, 47% of all sequences reported. The rising proportion of Delta among sequenced variants of concern is consistent with what other parts of the U.S. are seeing and represents increased circulation of the variant. Because 4 million residents in L.A. County are not yet vaccinated, the risk of increased spread is very real. 

The Delta variant appears to be highly transmissible – and is more contagious even than other highly contagious COVID-19 variants – and there is concern that it may cause more severe infections than other COVID-19 variants. While emerging data affirms that fully vaccinated people are well protected from severe infections with Delta variants, people with only one vaccine are not as well-protected. There is also increasing evidence that a very small number of fully vaccinated individuals can become infected and may be able to infect others. Nonetheless, vaccines remain the most important tool to keep COVID-19 transmission and the incubation of variants low, and the pandemic today is almost entirely among unvaccinated individuals.

Visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish) to find a vaccination site near you, to make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more. 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.  Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

Details: www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.