As COVID-19 related infections and deaths continue to decrease in L.A. County, zero single-day deaths were reported on both Sunday and Monday.

L.A. County averaged 21 single-day COVID-19 related deaths throughout the week between April 26 and May 2 — a significant decrease from the county’s peak average of 194 daily deaths in mid-January.

L.A.  Public Health also reported 255 positive COVID-19 tests and 390 hospitalizations. In the mid-January spike, L.A. County averaged more than 15,000 daily positive COVID-19 tests and 8,065 hospitalizations. It was the first time the county has recorded fewer than 400 COVID-19 hospitalizations since the early months of the pandemic.

While COVID-19 numbers decreased over the weekend, the department of public health noted it is possible that the numbers reflect a weekend delay in reporting from hospitals.

“Unfortunately, it is an artifact of the lag of reporting over the weekend,” L.A. Public Health director Barbara Ferrer said Monday. “Sundays and Mondays are always our lowest days in deaths… but as I have been reporting steadily for the last couple of weeks… we’re down to an average of four or five deaths per day. That’s a huge, huge decrease and I know it brings a lot of hope and joy.”

Los Angeles prepares for a possible move into the “yellow tier” of California’s Blueprint for a safer economy  as it is expected to hit the threshold on Wednesday, May 5.

In the yellow tier, most businesses will be allowed to increase its allowed capacity, as well as stadiums and theme parks.

The city of Los Angeles also expects to close its largest COVID-19 vaccination site at Dodger Stadium at the end of May, allocating those doses to multiple clinics and mobile sites. Both Los Angeles city and county-run sites are currently accepting walk-ins without appointments.

As of April 28, 4,485,937 (53.9%) of L.A. County residents aged 16 and up have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine with 2,983,914 (35.8%) being fully vaccinated.

 

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