COVID-19 hospitalizations rise; Ferrer urges precautions

Amid rising transmission and elevated hospitalization numbers, LosAngeles County's health director urged caution on Friday,, against the spread of COVID-19 over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, when many people are likely to attend parties or large gatherings.

“Given the rising number of COVID cases and hospitalizations and the increased circulation of the more infectious BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, it is extra important to take steps that reduce the risk of transmission especially over the long holiday weekend,” Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “This helps us protect ourselves, our families, and our community.

“… Please be sure to remind friends and family to stay home and skip the celebration if they feel sick or have tested positive. It is also a great idea for everyone to test themselves before getting together, ideally on the day of the gathering. It is always best to celebrate outdoors, and if people come indoors for part of the gathering, wearing a mask is advisable, particularly if there are individuals at high risk of severe illness should they become infected.”

Thursday, Ferrer reported a sudden uptick in the pace of COVID-19-positive people being hospitalized in the county, with the average daily rate reaching 8.1 per 100,000 residents, up from 6.6 earlier this week.

If the county reaches 10 new daily admissions per 100,000 residents, it will move into the “high” virus activity category as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If the county stays in the “high” category for two consecutive weeks, it will reimpose a mandatory indoor mask-wearing mandate.

At the current rate of increase, the county will hit the “high” category by July 19, Ferrer said. That projection has changed repeatedly in the past few weeks as the admission rate has fluctuated and Ferrer said it could shift again.

The number of COVID19-positive patients in county hospitals dipped slightly Friday, falling to 791 from 808 on Thursday. The number of those patients being treated in intensive care was 82, up from 74 a day earlier.

The county reported another 7,324 new COVID-19 cases Friday, raising the overall total since the pandemic began to 3,125,299. Another 10 virus-related deaths also were reported, giving the county a cumulative death toll of 32,344.

The average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus was 13.8% as of Friday.

Ferrer on Thursday noted an uptick in infections related to workplaces and she urged employers to implement infection-control measures in indoor spaces, such as masking and maintaining physical distancing in communal areas. She said one sector in particular — the TV and film industry — already has reimposed an indoor mask mandate now that the county's hospitalization rate has reached more than 8 per 100,000 residents.