text: LACo COVID spread rising, possibly falling out of 'low' virus risk category
  by City News Service • May 17, 2022 1 Comment
  The county, like most of the country, has been rated in the "low" risk category for weeks following the end of the winter surge in cases — a reflection of steadily declining cases and hospitalizations of virus-positive patients. But with the recent rise of highly transmissible variants, most notably BA.2 and the more recent offshoot BA.2.12.1, infection numbers have slowly risen.
  Ferrer said that could happen later this week. The CDC updates its ratings every Thursday. For residents, the shift would not have any immediate impact, since the county has already implemented the CDC's recommendations for areas in the "medium" category — such as mask-wearing on public transit, wide availability of vaccinations and guidance for improving ventilation in indoor settings. But if the county experiences a sudden spike in COVID-related hospitalizations, it could push the area into the "high" risk category, meaning a return of indoor mask-wearing mandates.
  Ferrer told the board, however, that she remains confident the county will avoid sliding into the "high" COVID activity category.
  "While we are disheartened that the pandemic hasn't ended, I am reassured that with the tools at hand, we can continue to enjoy our time with each other and our participation in those activities that we love," Ferrer said.
  The county reported another 2,233 COVID infections on Tuesday, May 17, raising the cumulative total from throughout the pandemic to 2,917,892. Another eight deaths were also confirmed, lifting the overall virus-related death toll in the county to 32,045. According to state figures, there were 327 virus-positive patients in county hospitals as of Tuesday, up from 312 on Monday. The number of those patients being treated in intensive care held steady at 44.