Both monkeypox and COVID-19 cases continue declining across Los Angeles County, health officials said during a Thursday afternoon, Sept. 15, briefing, continuing the trend of positive virus news that has relaxed indoor masking rules on the horizon.
Among the most positive metrics was the number of COVID-19-positive patients in county hospitals, which fell below the 700 mark on Thursday, extending a mostly steady downward trend that’s lasted more than a month.
There were 677 COVID-19-positive patients hospitalized in the county, down from 717 on Wednesday. Of those patients, 84 were being treated in intensive care, down from 89 a day earlier.
Those declines also correspond with improving cases numbers.
The county on Thursday reported 1,862 new COVID-19 infections, raising the overall total from throughout the pandemic to 3,435,551. Another 19 virus-related deaths were announced, though, giving the county an cumulative total of 33,432.
The official number of new cases reported each day is believed to be an undercount of actual infections in the county, because of wide usage of at-home tests, the results of which are not generally reported to the county.
The seven-day average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus in the county was 5.6% as of Thursday.
The county averaged roughly 1,700 new COVID-19 infections per day over the past week, a roughly 21% drop from 2,100 per day the previous week.
But perhaps the most important metric, at least in terms of health recommendations, is the weekly case rate.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a weekly case rate in LA County of 127 per 100,000 residents as of Tuesday. That kept the county not only in the CDC’s low-transmission tier, but also on track to relax a major health recommendation.
Once the county dips below 100 weekly cases per 100,000 residents, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said this week, masking will no longer be required on public transportation, in transit hubs or in government offices.
The county is on track to hit that threshold by the end of the month, Ferrer said.
Masking will still be required in health care settings, correctional facilities, congregate shelters, and senior living facilities. For individuals at high risk of illness, it will remain recommended in all indoor settings.
Monkeypox cases, meanwhile, also dipped recently, hitting 146 weekly cases as of Sept. 3 after peaking at 282 cases in the week ending Aug. 20, health officials said.
“The trend of new weekly cases and the increasing doubling time,” said DPH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rita Singhal, “support that there is a slowing of transmission and a declining growth rate in LA County’s monkeypox outbreak.”
Singhal attributed three key factors to the decline: changes in behavior, in response to greater awareness of how the disease is transmitted, increased vaccination and the natural burnout of the disease’s spread.
America’s first confirmed monkeypox death was recorded in LA County this week, though the disease is rarely fatal.
California accounts for the largest number of monkeypox cases in the country, reporting 4,453 cases out of nearly 23,000 nationwide. LA County had reported 1,820 as of Thursday, with another 101 cases in Long Beach and 26 in Pasadena.
Individuals at high risk of monkeypox should consider getting vaccinated this fall, Ferrer said.
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Currently, the groups eligible for vaccination include anyone who has had skin-to-skin contact with someone with suspected or confirmed monkeypox, anyone who has sex with men or transgender people, anyone who engages in transactional sex and anyone with HIV.
For individuals with suspected exposure, the monkeypox vaccine is most protective when administered within four days of exposure. But it can also provide protection if administered up to two weeks afterwards, Ferrer said.
Ferrer also recommended that everyone who is eligible receives the flu shot and the latest COVID-19 booster shot, which are both formulated to protect against the most current variants.
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Individuals must be 12 or older to receive the new booster and, Ferrer said, people should wait at least 90 days since their last COVID-19 infection or two months since their last booster before scheduling an appointment. The primary vaccination series remains available to anyone 6 months of age or older.
“We do encourage everyone to take advantage of the many vaccination sites where you’re going to be able to get your flu vaccine and your COVID fall booster at the same time,” she said. “Both provide protection against illness severity, increasing the likelihood of fewer disruptions for you and your family this fall and winter.”
City News Service contributed to this report.