January 27, 2022
LA County Department of Public health
Along with several other COVID-19 metrics, hospitalizations are also declining with 4,323 people currently hospitalized, representing a decline from the peak of 4,800 patients last week. The seven-day average of new admissions of people with COVID-19 also decreased by 10%, from 614 patients one week ago to 552 admissions today. Further, only a portion of COVID cases are requiring critical care. As of today, 17% of COVID positive hospitalized patients are currently in the ICU, and 12% of COVID positive hospitalized patients are currently on ventilators.
Data is also showing the spread of Omicron has had a disproportionate effect among certain residents over the past two months, with the risk of hospitalization significantly lower for people who are fully vaccinated and boosted. Through January 15th, fully vaccinated and boosted individuals were 28 times less likely to be admitted to the ICU for COVID-19 than those unvaccinated, showing that vaccines continue to provide the best protection against severe illness.
Nonetheless, the county’s healthcare system remains under strain due to more healthcare workers testing positive, which is contributing to the shortage of healthcare workers across the county. For the week of January 14th, there were 1,559 new healthcare worker positive cases, representing a nearly 18% increase compared to the 1,326 cases from the week prior.
“While these declines give us cause for much welcomed hope, we should not take them as a sign to forgo the commonsense protective measures that helped to slow COVID-19 transmission in our county. Continuing these safety measures will drive down cases, which will ultimately end staffing shortages, reduce workplace and school outbreaks, and most importantly, keep residents from becoming seriously ill and dying. – Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health”
To keep workplaces and schools open, residents and workers are asked to:
Residents are legally required to be isolated if they have a positive COVID test result and are vaccinated. Close contacts with symptoms and unvaccinated close contacts need to be quarantined.
For updated isolation and quarantine guidance, please visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and are recommended for everyone 5 years old and older to help protect against COVID-19. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status. Appointments are not needed at all Public Health vaccination sites and many community sites where first, second, and third doses are available.
To find a vaccination site near you, or to make an appointment, please visit:
www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) or www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish).
If you need assistance, you can also call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or Schedule a home visit if you are homebound.
For more information regarding COVID-19 in LA County you can also visit the Public Health website at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov here you will find information on: