The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Los Angeles County has dropped to less than 1,000 for the first time in more than three months.
In 979, COVID-19 hospitalizations are at their lowest level since 23 November.
The number of deaths reported on Saturday by the county’s Department of Public Health, 42, is also significantly lower than the daily numbers in early winter.
The statistics paint a bright picture for the state’s most populous county, which has been a focus of coronavirus infections and deaths.
Meanwhile, 2 million COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to target communities across the state, allowing public health officials to loosen restrictions imposed after a winter surge in cases and fatalities.
Los Angeles and Orange are among the 13 counties about to abandon the most restrictive, purple, level of California’s four-level reopening plan.
Starting on Monday, LA County will allow the following:
- Museums, zoos and aquariums can open indoor activities at 25% capacity.
- Gyms, gyms and yoga and dance studios can operate indoors with 10% capacity.
- Theaters can open at 25% capacity, with reserved seats that separate groups by at least six feet.
- Retail and personal care services can serve customers at up to 50% of capacity.
- Restaurants can open indoors with 25% capacity, but must keep 2.5 meters of distance between tables.
- Internal malls can increase capacity by 50%.
- Schools can reopen for face-to-face classes for grades 7-12.
- Members of up to three families can meet indoors in private settings, but individuals must wear masks and maintain social distance. Those who are fully vaccinated can meet indoors in small numbers, without masking or distancing themselves.