All metrics have drastically declined since the peak of the winter surge.
In an update on Monday, L.A. County’s officials reported a continual decline in all Covid metrics. Hospitalizations, fatalities and new cases have all seen a sharp decline since the height of the winter wave. There has been almost a 75% decrease in hospitalizations from the beginning of January and the current seven-day average of daily new cases has gone from over 15,000 per day in early January to about 1,600. That’s an encouraging 90% drop.
L.A. County officials deliver COVID-19 updates (February 22, 2021) https://t.co/fxqFKlgJf3
— Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) February 22, 2021
According to the county, an estimated one in 730 residents (not including those in quarantine or isolation) has the virus and is capable of spreading it. That figure was at 460 last week. However, County public health director Barbara Ferrer cautioned that there is a slight delay and a post-Super Bowl spike might still be on its way. She also noted the grim milestone of 20,000 deaths in the county that draws ever closer to.
“We hope that persons chose to celebrate the Super Bowl and the Presidents Day weekend safely, with members of their own household,” she said.
Meanwhile, 1,770,505 doses of the vaccine have been administered in the county, of which, 513,586 were second doses. Health care workers, nursing home employees and residents aged 65 and up are currently eligible for a dose of the drug. Officials have acknowledged the slow distribution and are attempting to improve the accessibility of the shots with mobile clinics. Two of which Governor Gavin Newsom visited over the weekend.
Photo by Jakayla Toney on Unsplash