Los Angeles County reported another 34 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, along with 864 new cases, while again urging people to continue taking precautions against virus spread.
“Even though we have transitioned to a post-surge period, there is still substantial virus transmission across the county,” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “While many people may have only mild symptoms and are able to recover at home should they test positive, other individuals remain at elevated risk for severe infection, hospitalization, or death.”
The 34 deaths reported Wednesday lifted the county’s total from throughout the pandemic to 31,372. The new cases gave the county a cumulative total of 2,815,379. The rolling average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus was 0.7% as of Wednesday, holding steady over the past week. According to state figures, there were a total of 499 COVID-positive patients in county hospitals as of Wednesday, down from the 501 reported on Tuesday. Of those patients, 90 were being treated in intensive care units, down one from the previous day.
County health officials again said they are working to increase the number of providers who can offer residents access to anti-COVID therapeutics.
According to the Department of Public Health, the oral medications Paxlovid and Molnupiravir are prescription drugs that must be taken within five days of COVID symptoms developing. Paxlovid is available for anyone age 12 and older who weighs more than 88 pounds. Molnupiravir is available for anyone 18 and over. A third medication, Evulsheld, is given through an injection and is available for people 12 and over who have not been exposed to the virus and are unable to get a COVID vaccine for medical reasons.
“Public Health thanks our partners that are working to provide access to therapeutics for those high-risk individuals who are most vulnerable to becoming very ill,” Ferrer said.
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