LOS ANGELES – For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Black residents in Los Angeles County have overtaken Latinos and now have the highest rates of virus infections, hospitalizations and deaths, the county public health director said Thursday.
Barbara Ferrer noted that overall COVID rates in the county remain generally low, but she said the “flip” of Black residents overtaking Latinos in critical categories is primarily due to lagging vaccination rates in the Black community.
“We have our work cut out for us. It is going to be imperative we do a better job here,” Ferrer said of the need to improve vaccination rates.
According to county figures, as of May 15, Black residents had a 14- day cumulative infection rate of 45 per 100,000 residents, well above the 26 per 100,000 Latino/a residents, 24 for white residents and 11 for Asians. The higher case rate naturally translated to Black residents also leading the way in hospitalization rates and in the 14-day cumulative death rate, a 1.06 per 100,000 residents — double the rate for Latinos and triple that for Asians and whites.
“The shift of the highest proportion of case burden being borne by Black residents represents a big change in who is being disproportionately affected by this virus right now in L.A. County,” Ferrer said.
Ferrer pointed directly to lagging vaccination rates among the Black community as the reason for the sudden shift. As of May 23, just 40% of Black residents aged 16 and older in Los Angeles County had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. That compares to 48% of Latinx residents, 62% of white residents and 71% of Asian residents.
“If we can’t narrow the vaccination gap pretty quickly, we, I think, will see once again this tragedy around disproportionality in who has the most devastating health outcomes associated with this virus,” Ferrer said. “… In order to actually close this gap now in case rates, we’re going to have to do a better job of vaccinations. … This is the first time African-American residents, Black residents here in L.A. County are now experiencing the most cases, the highest adjusted rates of hospitalization and very sadly the highest rate of deaths.”
Ferrer announced another nine COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, raising the virus’ overall death toll in the county to 24,321. She also reported 217 new cases, but said the county has also identified another 3,857 infections dating back to March 2020 that have just been verified and added to the system. The cases lifted the county’s cumulative case total from throughout the pandemic to 1,243,319.
According to state figures, the number of people hospitalized in the county due to the virus dipped below 300, falling to 289, down from 325 on Wednesday. There were 51 people in intensive care, down from 61 on Wednesday.
Ferrer said a total of 9,564,035 vaccine doses have been administered in the county, including more than 5.5 million first doses and more than 4 million second doses. Among county residents aged 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.
Ferrer noted that progress is being made in getting more people vaccinated, but the pace needs to increase.
“Although the increases are all welcome, they don’t represent the momentum that’s needed to get L.A. County as a community fully safe and protected when we reopen on June 15,” she said. “They also aren’t enough to close the gaps. Over the next few weeks we do need to overcome as many obstacles to vaccinations as we can in our hard-hit communities. We don’t want to leave anyone vulnerable to outbreaks once there are fewer public health safety modifications that will be in place.”
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Celebrity Dietician says
Diet and lifestyle have to be discussed.
Kenny says
Yea because they are all obese
Tim Scott says
This is a truly remarkable comment.
Beecee says
Over all the defining characteristics of states, you choose to compare South Dakota to California.
Climate, weather, population, and much more differ from each other greatly.
What you should be comparing California with is Florida, both have large populations with major inner city areas, where the average age of its population was 4-5 years older and still had better outcomes with a Republican governor.
Keep in mind, that’s without statewide lockdowns.
South Dakota???
Tim Scott says
Why would we compare Florida with California? Florida is in permanent lockdown…it’s a primarily retired population.
And I’m not the one that picked South Dakota as the shining beacon of Republican governing in action. Tell South Dakota’s governor your objections.
By the way, if you think there were no lockdowns in Florida contact a friend in Flori…oh, yeah, nevermind. Unlikely you would have any.
Beecee says
No just family and friends in Florida.
You know what they say about those that assume.
‘Statewide’ lockdowns did not occur, read before you blabber
Very angry man, kinda like you just lost a video game or something.
Tim Scott says
Nah, I just find lying Republicans frustrating, because there’s no way to argue with someone who is immune to facts. But I don’t get angry, because emotion detracts from ability. You have to be able to cut open a bad human just as dispassionately as you would gut a good fish.
Beecee says
Nothing new here,
Your standard passive aggressive liberal who in real life couldn’t hurt a fly.
William says
Didn’t Desantis take away the reporting for COVID infections/positive tests/deaths away from their the health department?
That way he could “manage” the stats which may have been manipulated because Desantis is a Trumper after all.
So, while some may buy what Florida is selling, it might not be the truth.
Can’t trust Republicans. You can quote me.
Beecee says
Relax Rachel Maddow,
I know you look like a William but seriously,
Relax.
Tim Scott says
Yeah that’s the result of GOP control unchecked.
Tim Scott says
24.321 dead. Gosh Beecee, if only California had followed good GOP principles of government like South Dakota did we could have had an additional 16,000 dead right here in our county. Couple hundred in Palmdale alone.
GOOD THING WE HAVE RUN OUT THE GOP.
Things to be thankful for.
That said, EVERYONE in the community needs to be pushing to get vaccinated as quickly as possible. Yes, there have been complications from the vaccine. The real rates on that are vanishingly small. Compared to 24,000 dead from covid, there are less than 24 dead from the vaccine…a lot less.
Even if you have had covid already, the vaccine will produce antibodies that are more generalized that will help your body stay ahead of any new strains as the virus adapts. Please, get the facts.