Los Angeles County public health officials continue to stress vaccinations and testing as the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (photo curtesy of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health)

Although the surge in omicron cases continuing to decline, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials caution that it does not indicate an end to the pandemic, but rather COVID-19 metrics are stabilizing across the county.

For the seven days between Jan. 31 and Feb. 7, L.A. County reported an average of 9,800 daily cases, representing a 47% decrease from the average of 18,617 daily cases reported the previous week. Similarly, the daily average case rate decreased to 102 positive cases per 100,000 residents for the week ending Feb. 7, compared to 193 positive cases per 100,000 residents for the prior week, representing a 47% decline in the average daily case rate. The seven-day average daily test positivity rate also declined from 8% to 5%, a 40% decline from the prior week.

In addition to the encouraging case and test positivity trends, hospital admissions for COVID-19-positive patients in L.A. County have also significantly declined. For the week ending Feb. 7, the seven-day average of daily hospital admissions decreased by 111 admissions from the prior week, to 310 admissions. The number represents a 26% decline in county hospital admissions.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will consider the county to be post-surge when COVID-19 daily hospitalizations drop below 2,500 for seven consecutive days. Per state regulations, indoor masking at K-12 schools, childcare facilities, youth settings, health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless and emergency shelters and cooling centers is still required. Additionally, per federal regulations, masking when riding public transit and in transportation is still required.

Once L.A. County enters post surge conditions, masking will no longer be required in outdoor spaces at outdoor mega events, and in outdoor spaces at childcare facilities and K-12 schools. The masking requirement at indoor establishments will continue until L.A. County has two consecutive weeks at or below moderate transmission (10-49.99 new cases per 100,000 persons in the past seven days), as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or vaccines have been available for children under age 5 for eight weeks. That plan to alter masking requirements is also contingent on there being no emerging reports new variants of concern circulating that threaten vaccine effectiveness.

For information, visit publichealth.lacounty.gov.