Los Angeles County COVID-19 positivity rate at 1%, lowest since 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 beginning of the pandemic, according to the county.

The rate reached a maximum level of over 20% in December.

The number comes as the county says nearly 5,400,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given to people across the region. In total, 41% of the county’s population over the age of 16 received at least one dose of vaccine, according to the county.

Dr. Paul Simon, the scientific officer of the county’s Public Health Department, said the county remains on track to vaccinate 80 percent of the population by the end of June. He mentioned that between April 4-11, 670,000 doses were administered in the county, for an average of almost 100,000 per day.

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

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

On Friday, the county also reported another 36 COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total number of county deaths during the pandemic to 23,601.

Another 643 cases were also reported by the county, bringing the overall pandemic to 1,228,114.

City News Service contributed to this report.