The BA.2 subvariant is now believed to be the dominant COVID-19 strain circulating in Los Angeles County, which has seen an uptick in daily infection numbers — though hospitalization figures remain low and the death rate keeps declining, the public health director said Thursday.
Ferrer said the number of COVID-positive patients in county hospitals has remained below 300 -- reaching 273 as of Thursday, according to state figures.
She continued to express some concern about recent increases in school outbreaks, reporting a total of 14 over the past week. The increase correlates with the spread of the BA.2 subvariant, and follows the recent lifting of indoor mask-wearing mandates at school campuses. She also issued a reminder that while masks are no longer required indoors at schools, they are still strongly recommended.
Of the 273 COVID-positive people currently hospitalized -- a drop from 292 on Wednesday -- 38 were being treated in intensive care, down from 42 a day earlier.
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