The Antelope Valley Times

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LA County reports another 31 COVID deaths, nearly 1,500 new cases

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Another 31 COVID-19 deaths were reported in Los Angeles County Wednesday, while the number of virus-positive patients in county hospitals ticked up slightly.

The 31 new fatalities lifted the county’s overall death toll during the pandemic to 26,226. County health officials announced 1,479 new infections, giving the county a cumulative total of 1,466,248 since the pandemic began. The rolling average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus was still low, at 1%.

According to state figures, there were 750 COVID-positive patients hospitalized in the county as of Wednesday, up from 748 on Tuesday. Of those patients, 209 were in intensive care, down from 218 a day earlier. The number of COVID-positive people hospitalized in the county has fallen 32 times in the past 37 days, bringing the number down from a summer peak of nearly 1,800.

On Thursday, the county will begin imposing COVID-19 vaccination requirements at indoor portions of bars, wineries, distilleries, nightclubs and lounges. Employees and customers of such businesses will be required to show proof of at least one dose of vaccine. Two doses will be required beginning Nov. 4.

Unvaccinated customers and employees can still be in outdoor portions of such establishments.

Meanwhile, people aged 12 and over attending outdoor mega-events of 10,000 or more people will be required to show proof of either full vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours. The requirement will affect ticketed sporting events, outdoor concerts and theme parks that have 10,000 or more people in attendance.

Mask-wearing will also be required at all such events. The requirements were already in place for large indoor events of 1,000 people or more.

“Helping organizations and businesses comply with targeted vaccination requirements over the next few months is a focus for Public Health,” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement Wednesday. “We are grateful for our partnerships with businesses and cities to promote safety for workers and residents. We do need to work together to improve vaccination coverage until we reach a vaccination level so high that the virus, or a new variant of the virus, would have trouble gaining traction. The millions of individuals who remain unvaccinated unfortunately represent opportunities for viral transmission and mutation.”

According to Ferrer, as of Sept. 30, 78% of eligible county residents aged 12 and up have received at least one dose of vaccine, while 69% are fully vaccinated. Of the overall county population of 10.3 million people, including those not yet eligible for the shots, 67% have received at least one dose, and 60% are fully vaccinated.

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7 comments for "LA County reports another 31 COVID deaths, nearly 1,500 new cases"

  1. the “new cases ” are most likely because all the un tested unvaccinated immigrants migrating ILLEGALLY . wake up people the government has an evil plan and were letting them get away with it

    • “Most likely”? Is this based on any kind of facts or statistics, or is this just some wild hair you are sprouting from an orifice?

  2. Only 50% percent of Palmdale is parochially vaccinated and 45% are fully vaccinated. Citizens of Palmdale Lancaster, this is unacceptable. You have you friends, your family, your children and neighbors to consider as well as your own health and safety. Children under 12 don’t yet qualify for the vaccine, what if it was your child, who got sick. 99% of COVID 19 hospitalizations are due to those unvaccinated, filling hospitals, to the point where people who have other conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and are pregnant are getting turned away. People have to wait for hours upon hours for minor surgeries because there’s a shortage in staff and beds. What if this was your father, your friend, your mother, child, sister, or brother. How would you feel if it were them? Also, don’t you want to get back to the things and people we love? Don’t you want this living night mirror to end? to end, restrictions and even mask wearing?
    Go, take it, Pfizer’s FDA approved and the other two are proven to be safe. You have places like Queens NY, where they are 97% half vaccinated and 90% full. If it wasn’t safe, wouldn’t you think the vaccinated rates wouldn’t be as high? Please, go take it. It’s safe, effective, and would help us all, and you. Really, there’s absolutely no escuses for the dismal numbers in what is one of the most progressive statees.