Long Beach reports marginal increases in some COVID-19 metrics – Press Telegram

Lengthy Seaside’s coronavirus metrics remained comparatively steady this week — with slight will increase in sure classes — retaining town within the low group transmission tier.

Regardless of the small scale of these will increase, although, native well being officers continued to warning towards a possible winter surge of COVID-19 as world instances proceed to tick upwards.

“Traditionally, now we have seen that no matter is occurring in Europe,” Metropolis Well being Officer Dr. Anissa Davis mentioned in a Friday, Oct. 28, assertion, “is a harbinger for what may come to the U.S.”

European well being officers, in an Oct. 12 statement, mentioned they’d recognized indicators that one other COVID-19 surge on that continent had begun — noting that each residents and well being businesses “shouldn’t let our guard down.”

Within the U.S., Davis mentioned, a number of components — apart from the worldwide rise in instances — are at play that would in the end culminate in one other winter surge right here. These embrace the gradual rise of different omicron subvariants domestically, together with rising cases of the flu.

This flu season marks the U.S.’ worst in practically a decade, based on data the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention posted on Friday. Because the begin of flu season this 12 months, there have been a minimum of 880,000 diseases, 7,000 hospitalizations and 360 deaths, based on the CDC.

The current prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus — which usually causes chilly signs however may cause extreme illness in infants and older folks — can also be “straining hospital capability,” Davis mentioned.

And with omicron subvariant BA.5 beginning to lose its stronghold amongst Los Angeles County’s and Lengthy Seaside’s caseloads, different, extra vaccine-evasive variants might start to extend.

“All of those components spotlight the necessity to get vaccinated for influenza, get the up to date bivalent COVID booster should you’re eligible, apply good hand hygiene, keep house if you’re sick,” Davis mentioned, “and contemplating carrying a masks in crowded indoor public locations.”

Because it stands, although, Lengthy Seaside’s metrics remained comparatively unchanged from the information reported final week.

Lengthy Seaside reported 191 new coronavirus instances this week, as of Thursday, Oct. 28, down barely from 272 reported the week earlier than. The full variety of instances because the pandemic started, based on metropolis knowledge, was 152,515 as of Thursday.

The info is thru Thursday, however the metropolis posted the most recent info to its COVID-19 dashboard on Friday.

The town’s day by day case charge was 4.4 per 100,000 folks this week, down from 6.1 the week earlier than, the information exhibits. The seven-day case charge, in the meantime, sat at 57.2 per 100,000.

The positivity charge was 4.5%, as of Thursday.

The variety of Lengthy Seaside residents who have been hospitalized and had examined constructive for COVID-19 rose to 14, as of Thursday, based on metropolis knowledge, up from 9 reported final week.

The seven-day charge of latest COVID-19 hospital admissions elevated, from 1.1 per 100,000 folks final week to 2.3 this week. The proportion of in-patient beds occupied by COVID-19 sufferers in Lengthy Seaside-area hospitals was 2.4%, based on metropolis knowledge, down marginally from the week prior.

The town reported three COVID-19-related deaths in Lengthy Seaside this week. The citywide loss of life toll because the pandemic started was 1,336, as of Thursday.