LA Hit With 2,550 New COVID Cases, Spike In Hospitalizations

LOS ANGELES, CA —Los Angeles County reported more than 2,550 new COVID-19 infections Wednesday, the largest daily number since mid-February when the county was in the state's most restrictive purple tier for closures.

Addressing reporters during an event in Long Beach on Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he did not see a need to resume closures if more people step up to get vaccinated. In the meantime, Los Angeles County Public Health Department officials have their hands full with surging cases and hospitalizations, while deaths begin to creep up. County officials believe the millions of vaccinated Angelenos will serve as a bulwark against the kind of winter surge that killed thousands of residents weekly. Still, testing positivity rates are more than seven times what they were a month ago, and hospitalizations have more than doubled.

"Because of the more infectious Delta variant and the intermingling of unmasked individuals where vaccination status is unknown, unfortunately, we are seeing a surge in cases in L.A. County that looks somewhat similar to last summer," county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. "An important difference this summer is that with millions of people vaccinated, we are hopeful we will avoid similar increases in deaths that were experienced last year.

The 2,551 infections reported Wednesday marked the 13th consecutive day the number has topped 1,000. It brought the county's cumulative number of cases from throughout the pandemic to 1,273,390.

The number of people hospitalized due to the virus continued rising as well, jumping from 585 on Tuesday to 645 on Wednesday, according to state figures. The number of people in intensive care rose to 140, up from 134 on Tuesday. One month ago, on June 21, the county reported just 213 people hospitalized due to COVID.

Also continuing to rise is the rolling average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus. As of Wednesday, the average was 5.2%, up from 4.8% on Tuesday. The rate one month ago was 0.7%.

"By adding a mask requirement for everyone indoors, the risk for transmission of the virus will be reduced, and with increases in the number of people getting vaccinated, we should be able to get back to slowing the spread," she said. "Sensible masking indoors adds a layer of protection to the powerful vaccines. It is important that we work together to drive down transmission so that there will be much less community transmission when schools reopen."

The county implemented a renewed mask-wearing requirement late Saturday, requiring face coverings in all indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status.

Although health officials have continued to stress the effectiveness of vaccines against COVID and the "Delta" variant, the universal mask mandate is seen as a way to ensure unvaccinated residents abide by the rule. The previous requirement that only unvaccinated people wear masks indoors was enforced solely by the honor system.

A study released this week by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research found that unvaccinated residents admitted to flouting pandemic health guidelines more than vaccinated individuals. Adults who would not get the vaccine said they were less likely to follow state and local guidelines such as wearing a mask and social distancing.

The "Delta" variant, first detected in India and blamed for rampant infections in that country, is spreading rapidly in the United States. Newsom said Wednesday the variant now represents more than 60% of all COVID samples that undergo variant sequencing in the state.

County health officials have pointed to the variant as the primary cause of rising case numbers, saying it can spread rapidly among unvaccinated residents. As of last week, there were still nearly 4 million residents in the county who were unvaccinated, including about 1.3 million children who are ineligible for the shots.

Black and Latino residents have the lowest vaccination rates among ethnic groups in the county. The rate is even lower among young Black and Latino residents. Of the 2,551 new cases reported Wednesday, 83% were among people under age 50, according to the Department of Public Health.

So far, the only major COVID statistic that has not risen dramatically over the past month is the number of deaths. The county reported only seven new fatalities Wednesday, lifting the overall death toll to 24,594.

Throughout the pandemic, the number of deaths has traditionally risen in the weeks following a spike in hospitalizations.

The most recent figures from the county show that 69% of residents age 16 and over have received at least one dose of vaccine, while 61% are fully vaccinated.

In hopes of encouraging more people to get vaccinated, the county is continuing to offer incentives. Through Thursday, anyone who gets vaccinated at sites operated by the county, the city of Los Angeles or St. John's Well Child and Family Center will be entered for a chance to win one of seven concert ticket packages, with tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters, Disney on Ice and the Gold Over America Tour with Simone Biles at Staples Center.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.