Long Beach is now in the'medium' range for coronavirus infections due to an increase in COVID cases.

 

Long Beach is now in the'medium' range for coronavirus infections due to an increase in COVID cases.

Increased COVID-19 rates across Los Angeles County have pushed Long Beach's viral activity rating from "low" to "medium," leading city authorities to remind residents to take precautions including wearing masks indoors and continuing to be vaccinated.

According to city data, there were 205.7 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents during the previous seven days as of Friday. This was aided by the fact that 329 additional COVID-19 cases were recorded on Friday. Approximately a month ago, there were only 19 new daily cases reported.

While Long Beach has had some of the highest COVID-19 case rates since the winter, hospitalizations and deaths have remained low, thanks to the county's strong vaccination rate, according to health officials. According to city data, 74.4 percent of Long Beach residents aged 5 and above are completely vaccinated, but just 37.7% have received a booster.

Only 13 Long Beach residents have been hospitalised due to the coronavirus. According to the city, COVID-19 patients account for 1.5 per 100,000 residents and 1.6 percent of staffed inpatient beds. Nonetheless, the recent rise in outbreaks around the city, notably in schools and nursing homes, has contributed to the city's relegation to the medium tier.

The medium tier is the second of three tiers established by the CDC to assess COVID-19's impact on communities at the county level. COVID-related hospitalizations would have to skyrocket to reach "high" levels.

There are no additional masking rules or business closures as a result of moving to the "medium" transmission level.

Los Angeles County and Long Beach were among the last large localities in the country to maintain strict mask restrictions as the winter surge in cases subsided this year.

Long Beach announced in February that it will suspend its indoor masking rules after the city achieves a seven-day cumulative rate of less than 50 cases per 100,000 people.

Long Beach, meanwhile, lifted its mask regulations in early March, despite the fact that the case rate remains double that figure, as the city follows new federal rules.

The health order in Long Beach was last modified in April, removing the requirement for masks in most indoor settings. However, the city still requires masks to be worn on all public transportation, including buses, trains, and ride-shares, as well as indoor transportation hubs like airport terminals.