On Tuesday, the County of Los Angeles Public Health (PH) reported 21,790 new positive cases and 24 new deaths due to COVID-19.

“Although cases have increased among vaccinated people over the past few weeks, Public Health data suggests that vaccines remain extremely protective against the most severe outcomes from COVID infections,” stated PH.

From Dec. 15 to Dec. 28, the rate ratio for ICU admission was 21.3, indicating the risk of ICU admission was 21.3 times higher among unvaccinated individuals than among fully vaccinated individuals, according to PH.

“I send my heartfelt condolences to those families who have lost a loved one due to COVID-19,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, director of Public Health. “Even as transmission surges, we are seeing that vaccines are doing what they were intended to do, which is protect people from getting severely ill due to COVID.” 

According to Ferrer, 80% of eligible LA County residents have already received at least one dose of the vaccine. There are about 2 million people in the County who have yet to get vaccinated.

“Choosing not to take the vaccine during this explosive winter surge is very risky since so many of those ill with COVID in the Intensive Care Unit at hospitals are unvaccinated and, tragically, some of these individuals will not survive. So, as we start this new year, please protect yourselves by getting vaccinated and boosted if eligible and give others around you the peace of mind that comes from reducing the risk of a terrible outcome as more and more people are infected with this virus,” she said.   

Of the 24 new deaths reported on Tuesday, one person was between the ages of 18 and 29, two people were between the ages of 30 and 49, four were between the ages of 50 and 64, seven were between the ages of 65 and 79, and nine were over the age of 80 years old.

Public Health is reminding residents to avoid visiting the Emergency Dept. unless they need emergency medical care. Residents should not be visiting the Emergency Dept. solely to get a COVID test or for minor complaints that could be resolved through their primary care physician, according to PH.

To keep workplaces and schools open, residents and workers are asked to:

• Get tested to help reduce the spread, especially if traveling for the holidays, have had a possible exposure, or have symptoms, or are gathering with people not in the same household
• Adhere to masking requirements when indoors or at crowded outdoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status

Residents are legally required to be isolated if they have a positive COVID test result and that vaccinated close contacts with symptoms and unvaccinated close contacts need to quarantine.

To find a vaccination site nearby or to make an appointment, visit www.VaccinateLACounty.com or call (800) 540-0473.

Total numbers of those who have tested positive and deaths due to COVID-19 as of Tuesday:

City/Area                                        Cases                   Deaths

Burbank                                           14,307                    268

Glendale                                          30,586                    729

La Cañada Flintridge                       1,605                      17

Eagle Rock                                        5,538                     123

Sunland                                             3,358                      66

Toluca Lake                                     1,046                         6

Tujunga                                            4,372                       84

Unincorporated Areas of Los Angeles County

Altadena                                          5,243                   82

Angeles National Forest                    49                      1

La Crescenta Montrose                 1,873                   19

Mary O’KEEFE contributed to this article