LISTING OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH PRESS RELEASES
News Release
Los Angeles County Public Health Logo

313 N. Figueroa Street, Room 806  |  Los Angeles, CA 90012  |  (213) 240-8144  |  media@ph.lacounty.gov

twitter logo instagram logo facebook logo youtube logo Spotify logo

For Immediate Release:

May 22, 2021

Additional Variants Identified in L.A. County; Vaccines Show to Be Highly Effective in Reducing Infection By COVID-19 Variants

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 14 new deaths and 265 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 14 new deaths reported today, four people that passed away were over the age of 80, two people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, seven people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, and one person who died was between the ages of 18 and 29. To date, Public Health identified 1,238,607 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,166 deaths. There are 330 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 24% of these people are in the ICU. Testing results are available for over 6,691,000 individuals with 17% of people testing positive. Today's daily test positivity rate is 0.4%.

Variant cases of COVID-19 continue to be identified in Los Angeles County. The most common circulating variant of concern in L.A. County is now the UK variant (B.1.1.7); in the past, the California (B.1.427/429) variants have been dominant. Of the 40 specimens analyzed by the L.A. County Public Health Laboratory in the past week, 53% were the UK variant and none were the California variant. The lab also detected 6 Brazil (P.1) variants last week and one South African variant (B.1.351).

The identification of these variants and the news of spreading variants from across the globe highlights the need for L.A. County residents to continue to take measures to protect themselves and others: this is particularly true for those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 who can end up unknowingly being incubators of variants of concern. If you are not yet vaccinated or unable to get vaccinated, it is very important that you continue to wear a mask and maintain 6 feet of distance when around others not in your household and consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can.

Recent research findings provide added evidence that the currently available vaccines appear to be highly effective against the variants of concern that are circulating here now. A new study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) showed that over the last few months, during a period when the current viral variants have been circulating widely, vaccines reduced the risk of getting sick with COVID-19 by 94% among fully vaccinated healthcare workers.

“We send our deepest condolences to the friends and families who are grieving today and wish you healing,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “There has now been ample research conducted on the vaccine, and study after study show extraordinarily high level of protection from COVID-19. We have so much proof that these vaccines are safe and very effective at preventing infection, serious illness and death from COVID-19. If you haven’t yet been vaccinated, this is a good weekend to do so; vaccines are available at County-run sites without an appointment, and you could win Lakers season tickets.”

This weekend at select County-run vaccination sites and L.A. City vaccination sites, everyone 18 years and older getting their first COVID-19 vaccine will have a chance to enter the Los Angeles Lakers 2021-22 Season Ticket Vaccination Sweepstakes to win a pair (2) of season tickets for next season. For additional information and locations, visit: Lakers Vaccination Sweepstakes.

COVID-19 vaccinations are available at County-run sites and many community sites without an appointment. Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated. To find a vaccination site near you, to make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish) If you don’t have internet access, can’t use a computer, or you’re over 65, you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment or scheduling a home-visit if you are homebound. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

COVID-19 vaccines are free to everyone who wants one; you should never be sent a bill or be charged a co-pay for a COVID vaccine, regardless of whether you are insured or whether you got vaccinated at your doctor’s office, by a provider outside your network, or at a city or county site. If you get a bill from your insurance carrier, contact them to clarify what the charge is for. If you are billed at a vaccine site, you should report this to the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.

County Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, Recovery Dashboard, and additional actions you can take to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

Please see additional information below:

Laboratory Confirmed Total Cases 1238607*

Deaths 24166

Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

Hospitalization

Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

CITY / COMMUNITY** CASES (Case Rate)

These numbers are subject to change based on further investigation. 25 cases and 1 death previously reported were not in Public Health's jurisdiction. * Means that case numbers include cases associated with correctional facility outbreaks located in the city/community. **Rate is crude and is per 100,000. This represents the number of cases per 100,000 people and allows for the proportional comparison of cities of different sizes.

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

The Department of Public Health is committed to promoting health equity and ensuring optimal health and well-being for all 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health comprises nearly 4,500 employees and has an annual budget of $1.2 billion. To learn more about Los Angeles County Public Health, please visit www.publichealth .lacounty.gov, and follow LA County Public Health on social media at twitter.com/lacounty.gov, and follow LA County Public Health on social media at twitter.com/lapublichealth, facebook.com/lapublichealth, instagram.com/lapublichealth and youtube.com/lapublichealth.


#####