The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on Sunday reported 1313 new cases of coronavirus, although the rate of positive tests continues to decline.
During the past seven days, 1.8% of the people tested for coronavirus were positive, compared to 20% at the beginning of the year.
The province also reported 22 deaths – probably a countdown due to a backlog in reporting over the weekend.
There are 1,176 people admitted to the country with COVID-19; almost one-third are in intensive care. Hospitalizations have dropped by 50% in the past two weeks.
Deaths and hospitalizations are both lagging indicators of the spread of the coronavirus, reflecting exposure that occurred a few weeks earlier.
A total of more than 1.2 million cases were confirmed in LA County and 22,029 people died. Overall, there were more than 3.5 million confirmed cases and 54,124 deaths.
In a statement, Barbara Ferrer, director of public health in LA County, urged the public to continue to follow guidelines for public health – to avoid large gatherings, wear masks and postpone non-essential travel – as the getting hot again and more businesses opening in the state.
Orange County reported 110 new cases and 53 deaths on Sunday; public health officials said deaths could be higher than usual over the next few days as it removed a backlog resulting from technical problems in a state database. There are 296 Orange County residents admitted with the disease, 30% of whom are in intensive care.
Both LA and Orange counties, along with the rest of Southern California, remain in the state’s most restricted level for reopening, press. The provinces are soon expected to introduce the next level, red, in part depending on when California can apply more vaccinations in low-income areas.
As of Sunday, LA County, with a population of 10 million, had administered 2,489,533 doses of vaccine. Orange County, with a population of 3.2 million, administered 832,948 doses.
In LA County, health workers, people 65 years and older, and essential workers in education, child care, emergency services, food, and agriculture are eligible to receive the vaccine.
Amid declining cases and the expansion of vaccinations, outdoor restaurants, hair and nail salons and museums have reopened at lower capacity. Some schools in LA County have reopened with amendments for the transition from kindergarten to sixth grade; Los Angeles Unified said it is expected back to some basic grades in mid-April.
Government officials said Friday that theme parks and sports stadiums could open as early as April 1.