LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Los Angeles County health officials Friday were continuing their push for people to take precautions against COVID-19, with cases steadily rising and the number of virus-positive patients in county hospitals topping 800.


What You Need To Know

  • The seven-day average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus continued an upward climb, reaching 9.4% as of Wednesday, up from 6.5% a week ago

  • According to state figures, there were 822 COVID-positive patients in county hospitals as of Thursday

  • The county is now averaging 1,971 new COVID infections per day over the past week, a 39% increase from the previous week

  • Overall official case numbers are believed to be artificially low, due to residents who use at-home tests and do not report the results to the county

According to state figures, there were 822 COVID-positive patients in Los Angeles County hospitals as of Thursday, an increase of 28 from the previous day. Of those patients, 96 were in intensive care, down from 101 the previous day.

Health officials have said previously that roughly 40% of virus patients were actually admitted for COVID-related issues, while the rest were admitted for other reasons but tested positive at the hospital.

On Wednesday, local health officials reported 3,077 new cases of COVID-19 and 10 additional virus-related deaths, bringing the county's cumulative totals to 3,524,896 cases and 34,135 fatalities since the pandemic began.

The seven-day average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus also continued an upward climb, reaching 9.4% as of Wednesday, up from 6.5% a week ago, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The county is now averaging 1,971 new COVID infections per day over the past week, a 39% increase from the previous week.

Overall official case numbers are believed to be artificially low, due to residents who use at-home tests and do not report the results to the county. County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis noted last week that many other people who may be infected don't get tested at all.

The county has been seeing steadily rising case and hospitalization numbers since the beginning of November, prompting health officials last week to again "strongly recommend" that people wear masks at indoor public settings. Masks are still required indoors at health-care and congregate-care facilities, for anyone exposed to the virus in the past 10 days, and at locations where they are required by the operator.

"We are grateful for the support and kindness residents have shown each other as together we respond to the continued challenges of COVID-19," county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement Wednesday. "As we look forward to other upcoming winter holidays, getting vaccinated with the new updated fall COVID-19 booster offers you and your family additional protection as you make plans to travel, shop and gather with those you love.

"If we continue to care and protect each other by getting the new bivalent booster and wearing masks indoors we are also helping to reduce stress on our health care system and protect dedicated workforce members. The service of essential workers is truly something to be grateful for this Thanksgiving," Ferrer continued. 

She again noted the persistent spread of flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, in the county, which are combining with COVID-19 to present a triple threat of respiratory illnesses. She urged residents to receive a flu shot in addition to the COVID booster vaccine.

A fully vaccinated person can still contract and transmit COVID, but health officials say the vaccines offer protection against developing severe symptoms that can result in hospitalization and even death.