COVID-19 Infections in Pasadena Remain at Pandemic Lows

New cases of COVID-19 in Pasadena remained at levels not previously seen in well over a year with only two new infections detected by public health officials on Thursday.

The city’s average number of daily infections over the prior week declined to 1.7, which was the lowest rate recorded since March 26, 20210, according to Pasadena Public Health Department data.

It’s been 20 days since a fatality has been reported in Pasadena, and 18 days since a daily case count exceeded single-digits.

The local pandemic totals on Thursday stood at 11,278 known infections and 346 deaths.

Saying the numbers highlight the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, Los Angeles County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said Thursday that the county has identified just 933 “breakthrough” cases of fully vaccinated residents testing positive for the virus — out of more than 3 million people.

Ferrer said the numbers translate to an infection rate of 0.03% among the nearly 3.3 million people who have been fully vaccinated in the county since May 7. Of those 933 people, 71 were hospitalized — a rate of 0.002% of the fully vaccinated population — and 12 died, translating to a rate of 0.00036%.

Ferrer noted that of the 12 people who died, four had “severely weakened immune systems” from prior medical conditions or medications, highlighting the need for such people to continue taking precautions even after being fully vaccinated.

“Our results are in fact consistent with the state’s,” Ferrer said.

“And this news is very good because these numbers show that the vaccination is working extraordinarily well to prevent infection, illness and death in almost everyone vaccinated,” she said.

Ferrer also pointed to a pair of other recent studies — one out of Houston and another from Israel — which both found the vaccines had an effectiveness rate of more than 96% in preventing illness.

“We now have mounting proof that these vaccines really work,” Ferrer said.

As of May 16, more than 9.1 million doses of vaccine have been administered in the county, and more than 5 million residents have received at least one dose. She said among residents aged 16 and over, 61% have received at least one dose, and 47% are now considered fully vaccinated.

The numbers are better among older residents, with 84% of residents aged 65 and over receiving at least one dose, and 70% being fully vaccinated.

There continue to be racial and ethnic disparities. Among the population aged 16 to 64, just 34% of Black residents have received at least one dose, compared to 57% of whites and 67% of Asians. The rate for Latinx residents is 42%.

“Over these next few weeks as we prepare for our full reopening, we do need to double-down on our efforts to reduce any barriers to vaccination in our hard-hit communities,” Ferrer said.

“Our goal in doing this is to ensure these communities are not more vulnerable to rising cases and outbreaks when there are fewer public health safety modifications in effect at the places

where residents and workers are intermingling with people outside their households.”

She urged residents who have been vaccinated to reach out to friends or colleagues who have not, and talk to them “about what’s stopping them and help them make a vaccination plan.”

“If we each reach out to just one person, we together take a very big step forward in ending the pandemic,” she said.

The county reported another 19 COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, lifting the countywide death toll to 24,140.

Another 245 cases were confirmed, giving the county a cumulative total throughout the pandemic of 1,238,121.

According to state figures, there were 355 people hospitalized in the county with COVID-19, down slightly from 356 on Wednesday. There were 82 people in intensive care, up from 81 a day earlier.

State health officials reported 1,292 new infections and 48 deaths on Thursday, raising the statewide totals to 3,668,842 COVID-19 cases and 61,603 fatalities.

The state’s average positivity rate over the prior week inched up to 1%, according to California Department of Public Health data.

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