The average number of daily new COVID-19 infections in Los Angeles County has jumped by about 200% over the past month, but the increase hasn't translated to rises in local hospitalizations or deaths.
"And again, for some of these variants, they have moved from other countries across the world,'' she said."So when folks ask why Public Health remains cautious, it is because every time there is a new variant that is more infectious, or potentially more infectious, ... you have to be super careful about those who are most vulnerable in our communities. And in L.A. County that's millions of people. It's not a tiny number.
Ferrer again urged residents to get vaccinated, or to get booster shots, noting that while hospitalizations and deaths tied to the virus remain low, the situation can change. Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said that should be particularly true for people who visit retail stores or restaurants, stressing the need to protect workers even if masks are no longer required in such indoor settings.
The county reported another 1,888 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, raising the overall pandemic total to 2,879,817. Ferrer noted the county has been averaging more than 2,000 cases per day over the past seven days, a roughly 200% increase from the end of March.