A summer wave of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles has not let up, and case totals tracked by local public health agencies may not tell the full story.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said cases have been rising steadily since mid-May, with critical indicators like hospitalizations, virus concentrations in wastewater, and the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests all doubling.
“According to the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 dashboard, on July 31 there was a seven-day daily average of 589 new cases. The count has quadrupled since the start of June,” writes the independent news organization Crosstown LA.
While health agencies and care providers are much more prepared and equipped to treat COVID outbreaks, the current case totals are likely even higher than known because most people are testing at home and not reporting it, Crosstown reports.
It’s hospitalizations that continue to be the most important indicator for the current state of COVID-19.
On July 31, there were 410 people hospitalized in L.A. County with COVID-19, a far cry from the early 2021 peak of more than 8,000 hospitalizations, but still alarming for local health officials because it was the eighth consecutive week the count increased.
Coronavirus concentration in local wastewater is considered “very high,” Still, health authorities warn of the dangers to those who are older or have underlying health risks with a low of about 17% concentration in early July now having risen to a startling 54%. National data also shows that the wastewater concentration registers as very high, according to the National Wastewater Surveillance System.
Still, despite the rising cases, past infections and widespread vaccination have provided a layer of protection for many individuals, reducing the risk of severe illness and death, Crosstown reports.
But risks are still present for those who are older or have underlying health issues that could present additional risks, and as highly contagious variants continue to develop and spread across the country, Angelenos, like other Americans, are urged to take the necessary precautions from getting sick or possibly spreading the potentially deadly disease to those more vulnerable.
To read the full report from Crosstown LA, click here.