L.A. County Continues Improvement on COVID-19 Metrics

Last week, L.A. County experienced continued improvement with its COVID-19 metrics.

The County’s cumulative test positivity rate fell to 17%, lower than the typical average for 2020 and the region’s 19% peak in January 2021. In addition, the County reported the lowest daily test positivity rate to date, 0.5%, on Friday, May 14, 2021. Also, the County’s adjusted case rate was 1.4 new cases per 100,000 people, down from 1.6 the previous week. The County’s seven-day positivity rate has remained stable at 0.7%.

The County’s Department of Health Services reported that the County’s estimated transmission rate fell to 0.90, down from 0.96 during the prior week. The department noted that the current level, below 1.0, indicates reduced community transmission. The department’s model also suggests that about 1 in 1,600 people in L.A. County (0.06% of the population) is currently infectious to others, down from 1 in 1,200 during the previous week. Almost 5 in 8 people in L.A. County are assumed to be “protected” from COVID-19, at least in the short term. This assumption is based on an estimated 3 in 8 in the County having had and survived COVID-19 and another 2 in 8 having been fully vaccinated.

Vaccinations

As of May 9, 2021, the County reported administering 8,629,646 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, of which 5,194,588 were first doses and 3,435,058 were second doses.

The County is making significant progress in administering vaccines and in reducing demographic disparities in administration. In a press conference on Monday, May 10, 2021, L.A. County Director of Public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer said that she anticipated the County could reach “community immunity,” with 80% of County residents fully vaccinated, by mid-to-late July.

In addition, on Thursday, May 13, 2021, the County began administering the Pfizer vaccine to individuals ages 12–15, based on new CDC guidance.