Los Angeles County records 2,000 new coronavirus cases in two days

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Los Angeles County recorded thousands of new coronavirus cases within three days, part of an alarming rise in cases as transmission of the virus increases among unvaccinated people.

It was the first time since early March that the county reported two days in a row when more than 1,000 cases of the novel coronavirus were reported.

The numbers underscore growing concerns about how the highly contagious delta type COVID-19 can spread among unvaccinated people. Officials said those who have received the vaccinations are safe.

Officials said nearly 59% of Los Angeles County residents have been at least partially vaccinated so far, but that leaves millions more at risk.

“We are a large county, so the numbers are staggering in terms of people at risk of infection,” Barbara Ferrer, director of public health for Los Angeles County, said last week.

On Friday, 1,044 cases were reported, and 1,111 additional cases were reported on Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times tally of cases. On Sunday, officials announced 1,113 new cases of infection.

Over the past seven days, Los Angeles County has reported an average of 756 new cases per day. That’s three times higher than the average number of cases for the seven-day period that ended on June 26, when 244 cases were reported per day.

Hospitals are on the rise, too. The number of hospitalizations from COVID-19 on Friday rose to 373 – the highest number since early May – and about 76% from the record low set on June 12, when the number of hospitalized cases fell to 212. Deaths per day.

On Saturday, officials said the younger, unvaccinated residents are the ones transmitting the virus the most. Of the new cases reported on Saturday, 70 percent were younger adults, ages 18 to 49.

“Due to increased mixing, summer social activities, and the circulation of more variables…there is an increased risk of COVID-19 infection for people who are not fully vaccinated,” the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement.

The average daily coronavirus cases across California are also increasing. By Saturday night, California was averaging more than 2,000 new cases per day for the past week, a number not seen since April. The number of hospitalizations statewide rose to 1,381 as of Friday, a number not seen since mid-May.

“Our current hospitalization trends and the increasing delta variant…infection of what we remain unvaccinated are alarming,” California state epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said in a tweet.

Los Angeles County continues to recommend that fully vaccinated people wear masks in indoor public spaces amid some concerns that a very small number of vaccinated people may be able to transmit the virus to other people.

State and federal officials have said there is no need for fully vaccinated people to wear masks indoors, given the high level of efficacy of the vaccines.

Delta is now the most specific option in California, accounting for 42.9% of cases analyzed in June, according to new numbers released by the state Department of Public Health Thursday.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also estimates that the delta variant, which is thought to be twice as transmittable as conventional coronavirus strains, now comprises 51.7% of cases nationwide.

Despite the risks posed by Delta, officials stress that available vaccines hold up well — providing high levels of protection against infection and the more serious health effects of COVID-19.

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