Los Angeles and Ventura counties continue to see significant drops in COVID-19 case numbers as the state prepares to take an endemic strategy toward the virus.
L.A. County reported a seven-day average of 3,012 cases Sunday, a nearly 92 percent decrease from the seven-day average a month prior. Meanwhile, Ventura County reported a seven-day average of 203 cases, marking an 89 percent decrease from the same average a month earlier.
In the Valley region, ICU hospitalizations have generally decreased in the last month but some local hospitals, such as Encino Hospital Medical Center, Sherman Oaks Hospital, Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center and more, still have high ICU occupancies as of the week ending Feb. 17.
The decrease in cases and hospitalizations comes as California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a COVID-19 plan that would see the state shift from a crisis phase into one that will look to adapt to living with the virus.
The “Smarter” plan, which stands for shots, masks, awareness, readiness, testing, education and Rx, has a set of goals that include maintaining a stockpile of 75 million high-quality masks and the ability to distribute them as needed, having the ability to administer at least 200,000 vaccines per day and to ensure local entities can order relevant therapeutics within 48 hours, among other things.
The plan will address fatigue with the public health mandates and policies that have been implemented to control the virus’ spread, according to Newsom.