COVID-19 Infection Rate in Pasadena Continues Decline

The rate of COVID-19 infection in Pasadena continued declining to new record lows Monday as public health officials reported two new cases of the virus and no new fatalities.

Over the prior week, Pasadena saw an average of 1.9 daily infections, according to city data. A lower rate had not been seen in the city since March 26, 2020.

In total, Pasadena has recorded 11,210 cases of COVID-19 and 341 fatalities, with the most recent death reported Sunday.

Los Angeles County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer reported 288 new infections and 4 additional deaths Monday, reminding the public that figures often lag behind over weekends.

Since March of 2020, L.A. County has recorded 1,231,806 total cases of COVID-19 and 23,777 associated fatalities.

Ferrer said 407 patients were hospitalized with the virus at county hospitals, and 81 outbreaks were under investigation by the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

“We do remain at relatively low and stable case rates,” she said. “It’s so encouraging to see the work we’re doing together having such a profound effect on the health and wellbeing of people across our community,” she said.

More than 4.4 million people have received one dose of two-dose vaccine regimens, and more than 2.5 million people in L.A. County have been fully vaccinated, according to Ferrer.

Roughly 60% of county residents over 65 were fully vaccinated, compared with 24% of adults 18 to 64.

Walk-in vaccination clinics at eight county sites that began last week will continue through Thursday, so long as vaccine supplies last, according to Ferrer.

County records indicated 277,902 people in L.A. County who had received first doses of a two-dose regimen were overdue for the second dose. Fifty-seven percent of those people were between 18 and 64 years old.

Some of the figures may represent people who got their second doses outside L.A. County, Ferrer said. Others may have simply forgotten, or feel one dose is sufficient.

“While one dose does offer some protection, it’s not as strong a level of protections provided by two doses,” she said.

The single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine formulation was again approved for use this week after being placed on pause while federal officials investigated a reported side effect involving dangerous blood clots.

All three existing forms of the vaccine are safe and effective, Ferrer said.

The California Department of Public Health announced 2,116 new COVID-19 cases and 15 deaths on Monday, bringing the statewide pandemic totals to 3,631,740 infections and 60,203 fatalities.

The state’s average positivity rate over the prior week was recorded at 1.2%, representing the lowest rate recorded since the start of the pandemic.

As of Monday, L.A. County represented 34% of California’s COVID-19 infections and 39% of the state’s deaths.