Los Angeles County's COVID-19 metrics have dropped to some of their lowest levels in months. Officials reported fewer than 1,000 new, confirmed cases today, along with 32 deaths.
The county's daily test positivity rate is now just 3%. That's the lowest it has been since COVID-19 tests were made available to the general public.
And COVID-19 cases among health care workers are now at the lowest they've been since the pandemic began last year (largely because many health care workers have been vaccinated).
County public health director Barbara Ferrer says all of this is proof that vaccinations are leading to significant decreases in new infections.
Ferrer says the numbers indicate that the worst of the winter surge is finally behind us:
"We’re thankfully returning to average daily case numbers that the levels we saw before the surge. These declines are real and we’re grateful for the choices made, and the work done by everyone, individuals and businesses that [are] making this possible."
As the county opens up vaccine appointments to more essential workers today, including food and agricultural workers, Ferrer pleaded with anyone not in those groups, but still able to book a slot, to wait for their turn to come:
"Don't take away an appointment from an eligible worker, and please don't come to the vaccination sites, because you will need to be turned away."
You can see those numbers here:
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NUMBERS:
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