LA County COVID-19 hospitalizations dip; officials pitch power of vaccinations

Los Angeles County’s COVID-19 hospitalization numbers dipped somewhat connected Monday, Oct. 18, portion wellness officials again warned of accrued hazard of corruption among the unvaccinated population, compared to their vaccinated counterparts.

According to authorities figures, determination were 632 COVID-positive patients successful region hospitals arsenic of Monday, down from 638 connected Sunday. Of those patients, 183 were successful intensive care, down from 184 connected Sunday.

The region reported 4 much COVID-19 deaths connected Monday, lifting the wide decease toll from the microorganism to 26,418. Another 948 cases were besides confirmed, giving the region a cumulative full from passim the pandemic of 1,478,622.

Case and decease numbers thin to beryllium debased connected Mondays owed to reporting delays from the weekend.

The rolling mean regular complaint of radical investigating affirmative for the microorganism remained low, astatine 0.7%.

The region Department of Public Health reiterated statistic Monday aimed astatine showing the accrued hazard of COVID corruption among unvaccinated people, saying the corruption complaint for unvaccinated teens is 8 times higher than for vaccinated teens. For adults implicit 50, the complaint is 5 times higher for unvaccinated people, according to the agency.

Unvaccinated residents aged 12 and older are 12 to 22 times much apt to beryllium hospitalized owed to COVID-19 than their vaccinated counterparts, and the decease complaint is 32 times highter among residents 18 to 49, according to DPH.

The county’s nationalist wellness manager besides noted the COVID-related decease Monday of Colin Powell, the archetypal Black president of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, adjacent though helium was afloat vaccinated. Powell had agelong battled cancer, dramatically compromising his immune system.

“We articulation the federation successful mourning the decease of erstwhile Secretary of State General Colin Powell, who has died of COVID complications astatine the property of 84,” Barbara Ferrer said successful a statement. “While our information show the tremendous powerfulness of vaccines to forestall terrible outcomes of COVID infection, this tragic nonaccomplishment highlights the information that for susceptible people, including older adults and those with underlying wellness conditions including immunosuppression, determination is inactive a tiny but superior hazard of hospitalization oregon decease adjacent aft vaccination. This is wherefore masking and distancing stay important layers of extortion erstwhile transmission of COVID remains precocious oregon substantial, and expanding vaccination rates is the beast strategy for reducing vulnerability hazard for everyone.”

According to the astir caller region figures, 79% of eligible region residents aged 12 and implicit person received astatine slightest 1 dose of vaccine, and 70% are afloat vaccinated. Among the wide 10.3 cardinal population, including those ineligible for shots, 68% person received astatine slightest 1 dose, and 60% are afloat vaccinated.