Feb. 4, 2022
COVID-19 was the main reason for demise in Los Angeles County throughout the previous two years, surpassing coronary coronary heart illness, in accordance with an announcement from the Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being on Thursday.
Between March 2020 and December 2021, Los Angeles County recorded 24,947 COVID-19 deaths. Throughout that very same time, 21,513 residents died from coronary coronary heart illness, which is traditionally the main reason for demise throughout the nation. As well as, 3,422 folks died from pneumonia and the flu throughout that point.
Though the most recent surge in COVID-19 instances as a result of Omicron variant is subsiding, older and unvaccinated folks proceed to face excessive dangers of extreme sickness, hospitalization and demise, the well being division mentioned.
“Sadly, regardless of the supply of vaccines and the dominance of Omicron, which usually causes much less extreme illness than prior variants, COVID-19 deaths proceed to far outstrip deaths attributable to different respiratory sickness,” the announcement mentioned.
Earlier than the pandemic, coronary coronary heart illness deaths repeatedly doubled some other reason for demise within the county, in accordance to Deadline. In 2017, for example, coronary coronary heart illness accounted for greater than 11,000 deaths, adopted by Alzheimer’s illness with 4,100 deaths. Pneumonia and the flu made up about 2,000 deaths.
About 82% of eligible Los Angeles County residents have obtained at the least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, in accordance with the newest knowledge from the well being division. About 73% are totally vaccinated, and 34% have obtained a booster shot.
Kids between ages 5-11 have the bottom vaccination charges, with 32% having obtained one dose and 23% totally vaccinated. Throughout January, ages 5-11 represented 15% of all COVID-19 instances within the county regardless of making up 9% of the inhabitants.
“Kids do get contaminated with COVID-19,” Barbara Ferrer, the general public well being director, mentioned throughout a information briefing on Thursday.
Ferrer pointed to a current evaluation that discovered People are dying from COVID-19 at double the speed of the U.Okay. and 4 instances the speed of Germany, with low vaccination charges cited because the probably motive.
“These native and nationwide findings are necessary reminders that COVID has led to inconceivable sickness and demise,” she mentioned. “Growing vaccination and booster charges gives the perfect hope for decreasing probably the most tragic consequence from COVID an infection.”
