COVID-19 positivity rate in Los Angeles County at 1%, the lowest since the start of the pandemic

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – The average daily rate of people who tested positive for coronavirus in Los Angeles County fell to 1% on Friday, the lowest since the start of the pandemic, according to the county.

The rate peaked at 20% in December.

The figure comes when the county says about 5,400,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given to people across the region. In all, 41% of the county’s population 16 years of age or older has received at least one dose of vaccine, according to the county.

Dr. Paul Simon, scientific director of the county Department of Public Health, said the county is following the pace of vaccinating 80 percent of the population by the end of June. He noted that from April 4 to 11, 670,000 doses were administered in the county, for an average of about 100,000 a day.

Even with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine break, more than half of California has received at least one dose.

In Los Angeles County, hospitalizations fell below 500 on Friday after a small surge this week, a good sign as other parts of the country continue to see their numbers rise.

Friday in the county also reported 36 additional deaths from COVID-19, bringing the county’s cumulative death toll during the pandemic to 23,601.

The county also reported 643 more cases, which raised the global pandemic to 1,228,114.

City News Service contributed to this report.