LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has confirmed 174 new cases of COVID-19 and five new deaths.
Those figures, released Monday, are strikingly similar to Sunday's, when 175 new cases were confirmed, along with four deaths.
Typically, there is a reporting lag on weekends, so the numbers could be low.
To date, health officials have identified 1,243,882 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,339 deaths. There were 261 people with COVID-19 hospitalized in L.A. County on Monday, up three from the day before.
Testing results are available for more than 6,760,000 individuals, with 17% of people testing positive. The daily test positivity rate is 0.3%.
Over the past month, Los Angeles County continues to see small declines in cases, hospitalizations and deaths, but health officials said it's critical for people to continue getting vaccinated and maintaining safety practices.
Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer sent sympathies to the friends and families grieving the loss of a loved one over the Memorial Day weekend.
“We are all glad this Memorial Day will look so different from last Memorial Day -- it's such a relief for so many of us to be able to gather with family and friends again,'' she said.
“... I encourage everyone who hasn't been vaccinated yet, to make time to get vaccinated. The vaccine provides the best protection and is keeping transmission in L.A. County low.''
Through Thursday, at all the county-run vaccination sites, city sites and the St. John's Well Child and Family Center sites, everyone 18 and older getting their first COVID-19 vaccine or bringing a first-time vaccine recipient with them to their second dose appointment, will have an opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the 2021-2022 home season of either the LA Kings or the LA Galaxy. Two residents will be awarded prizes.
Anyone 12 and older is eligible to be vaccinated.
Continuing their efforts to reach vaccine-hesitant communities, county health officials have announced a partnership with the gang-rehabilitation organization Homeboy Industries for a series of public-service announcements encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations.
As of Friday, a total of 9,564,035 vaccine doses had been administered in the county, including more than 5.5 million first doses and more than 4 million second doses. Among county residents age 16 and older, 63% have received at least one dose, and 51% are fully vaccinated. Among those 65 and older, 85% have received at least one dose, and 72% are fully vaccinated.
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