LOS ANGELES, Calif. Aug19 – Los Angeles County surpassed the grim milestone of losing more than 25,000 residents to COVID-19. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is one of the leading causes of death – surpassing stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. To date, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) identified 1,362,848 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 25,002 deaths.
Today, Public Health confirms 35 new deaths and 3,239 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 35 new deaths reported today, nine people who passed away were over the age of 80, 11 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, nine people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, four people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49, and two people who died were between the ages of 18 and 29.
The County’s 7-day cumulative case rate is now 204.2 new cases per 100,000 residents, which represents a 5% increase from last week.
There are 1,790 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 23% of these people are in the ICU.
Between July 11 and August 11, hospitalizations rose by 333% to an average of 1,622 beds filled with people testing positive for COVID-19 on any given day, and deaths rose 275% to an average of 15 deaths per day.
Testing results are available for nearly 7,850,000 individuals with 16% of people testing positive. Today’s test positivity rate is 3.7%; a decrease from last week’s same-day rate of 4.5%. As schools and institutes of higher education return to session and their routine testing programs come back online, Public Health expects to see hundreds of thousands more test results each week and in parallel with those, increases in cases.
With many school districts countywide reopening this week and in the near future, Public Health is monitoring school cases in outbreaks among staff and students. There are several types of Public Health teams working with schools to ensure the safety of students and staff. School technical assistance or STAT teams reach out to schools proactively to assess preventive readiness and advise on options for improvement. Exposure management teams follow up on cases reported by schools and help identify possible sources of infection as well as close contacts, while also ensuring that schools provide appropriate isolation guidance to infected staff or students and their parents. And if more than one case is identified at a given school, educational setting outbreak teams will work with the school to determine whether these cases are connected. If evidence of contagion at a school site emerges, this team will take over the investigation and help the school identify steps it can take to reduce risk to the broader school community.
In the 24 hours between 8:00 a.m. August 17 and 8:00 a.m. August 18, 118 new K-12-associated cases were reported. Public Health teams are working closely with schools to ensure that positive cases are isolated and close contacts quarantined to reduce additional transmission at schools.
To ensure transparency with school communities, Public Health will launch an online school dashboard in September. The dashboard will include a district map shaded to provide district level information on testing volume, community case rates, and community vaccination rates. The dashboard will also display school level information, including numbers of student and staff cases, details on outbreaks at the school, and the number of students at the school required to quarantine.
“I extend my deepest condolences to all those who have lost friends, loved ones, and family. Please know that our hearts and our prayers are with you today and always,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “It is with much sorrow that we mark this devastating milestone of 25,000 deaths in our County. This virus continues to cause debilitating and dangerous illness among many who are infected. Losses we suffer now are particularly sad because almost all of them are preventable with extremely safe and widely available vaccines. Given the importance of continuing our recovery journey, we need to act with a sense of urgency to reduce community transmission as quickly as possible. Layering on public health protections is sensible, while noting that the most effective tool for slowing the spread is the vaccine. Right now, the people who need to be getting vaccinated are those 12 and over who haven’t yet received their first doses; the people due for their second doses, which includes everyone more than 3 weeks out from their first dose of Pfizer and more than 4 weeks out from their first dose of Moderna; and immunocompromised people who now are approved for their third doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.”
As of August 15, 90% of LA County residents 65 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, as have 74% of residents 16 and over and 73% of residents 12 and over. Sixty-three percent of residents 12 and over have been fully vaccinated. Of L.A. County teens between the ages of 12 and 17, 56% have received at least one dose and 46% are fully vaccinated. Out of the nearly 10.3 million L.A. County residents, including those who are not yet eligible for the vaccine, 63% have received at least one dose, and 55% are fully vaccinated.
Among the more than 5.1 million fully vaccinated people in L.A. County, Public Health identified 27,331 people fully vaccinated who tested positive for COVID-19 as of August 17; this is less than 1% of all those vaccinated. Of those who tested positive, 742 were hospitalized, up from 549 the week prior. This translates to 0.014% of all fully vaccinated people ending up hospitalized. Deaths in this group over this interval increased, from 55 to 68, to 0.0013%. These small increases reflect the reality that the vaccines do not provide 100% protection, and that with high rates of community transmission, more fully vaccinated people are getting post vaccination infections. However, this very same information also makes it clear how much protection vaccinated people still have; most fully vaccinated people do not get infected, they don’t end up hospitalized, and they are very unlikely to tragically lose their life to COVID-19.
Federal officials announced changes to vaccination strategies aimed at increasing the protection afforded to people by vaccines. With emerging data indicating that certain populations will need more support to be protected, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on August 13 recommended a third dose of mRNA vaccines for immunocompromised people, including transplant recipients, people with advanced or untreated HIV infection, people actively receiving cancer treatment, and people taking immunosuppressive medications. Third doses have been available to eligible individuals at vaccination sites across the county since Saturday. Additionally, following yesterday’s announcement by the CDC that booster doses of mRNA vaccines will be offered to all vaccinated people, Public Health is continuing to work with staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities to prioritize these most vulnerable residents for booster doses to be prepared for administering these as soon as the Food and Drug Administration gives their approval.
Public Health notes the difference between third doses and booster doses is more than just language. Third doses are meant to elicit an antibody response where there was an inadequate antibody response before, while booster doses are meant to increase antibody levels that have waned after a robust increase in the months after vaccination.
Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status. To find a vaccination site near you, make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish). If you don’t have internet access, can’t use a computer, or you’re over 65, you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home-visit if you are homebound.
COVID-19 Sector Protocols, Best Practices, COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Recovery Dashboard, and additional actions you can take to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.
2月7日阿拉伯海报道，在伊朗局势紧张之际，美国总统特朗普女婿库什纳（Jared Kushner)、总统特使维特科夫（Steve Witkoff)，以及美国中央司令部司令库珀（Brad Cooper）一行今天访问了正在阿拉伯海执行预定部署任务的美国海军林肯号航空母舰。林肯号航空母舰于去年11月离开加州圣地亚哥前往印太地区，并于今年1月抵达中东。 维特科夫表示，美军“正在保障我们的安全，并践行特朗普总统‘以实力促和平’的理念”。此前一天，美国和伊朗在阿曼举行了会谈，讨论伊朗核计划。 维特科夫在社交媒体平台X上写道：“我们感谢了海军官兵和海军陆战队员，观摩了实弹飞行演习，并与击落一架不明意图接近航母的伊朗无人机的飞行员进行了交谈。”“我为这些保卫我们国家利益、威慑敌人、向世界展示美国战备状态和决心、每天坚守岗位的男男女女感到自豪。” 库珀上将对美军官兵们说：“我与美国人民一道，对‘亚伯拉罕·林肯’号航母打击群的海军官兵们表达我们无比的自豪，他们在任务中的奉献精神和专业素养在中东地区得到了充分展现，彰显了美国军队的战备状态和强大实力。” 与此同时，以色列总理内塔尼亚胡（Benjamin Netanyahu）的办公室表示，他将于2月11日在华盛顿特区与美国总统特朗普会面，讨论伊朗问题。 内塔尼亚胡认为所有谈判都必须包括限制弹道导弹和停止对伊朗轴心国的支持。他所指的是伊朗对真主党和哈马斯等组织的支持。以色列和美国领导人上次会面是在去年9月。 特朗普总统2月6日在飞往佛罗里达棕榈滩海湖庄园的“空军一号”总统专机上说，2月6日在阿曼举行的会谈“非常顺利”，参加会谈的包括维特科夫和库什纳，“伊朗似乎非常渴望达成协议，我们必须看看那会是什么样的协议。”
2月6日华盛顿报道，今天晚些时候，美国总统特朗普就其社交媒体账户上发布的一段视频做出回应。该视频中包含对奥巴马和米歇尔的种族歧视性描绘，将他们描绘成猿猴。特朗普强调说，他曾看过这段现已删除的视频的开头部分，但没有看到过出现奥巴马夫妇的画面。 特朗普总统在空军一号总统专机上指出，该视频的大部分内容是关于所谓的选民舞弊，“我只看了开头部分，我没有看完整个视频。我猜在视频结尾，出现了一些人们不喜欢的画面。我也不喜欢，但我没看到。” 特朗普总统暗示他把视频交给了一名工作人员，称“有人疏忽了”，并在2月5日午夜前不久将其发布到了他的社交媒体账户上，但没有注意到最后几秒钟对奥巴马夫妇的描绘。 特朗普总统指出：“通常情况下，他们会看完整个视频，但我想有人没有，就发布了，我们一发现就立即把它撤下来了。” 白宫最初于今天为这条社交媒体帖子辩护。白宫新闻秘书莱维特表示，对该视频的批评是“虚假的愤怒”，并指出将奥巴马夫妇的脸P到猿猴身上的图片是恶搞民主党人模仿《狮子王》角色的梗图的一部分。 但几位共和党议员迅速谴责了该帖子，并敦促特朗普总统将其删除。南卡罗来纳州参议员斯科特称其为“我见过的来自白宫的最种族主义的东西”。几位共和党人还敦促白宫道歉。 特朗普总统表示，他与参议院唯一的黑人共和党参议员斯科特进行了交谈，谈到了媒体此前的报道。在他们交谈后不久，该帖子就从社交媒体上上删除了。 当被问及是否打算为该帖子道歉时，特朗普总统强调说：“不，我没有犯错。”但他表示“当然”会谴责视频中种族主义的部分。
2月6日华盛顿报道，美国总统特朗普昨天签署了一项行政命令，要求政府在评估对外武器销售时，必须考虑其对美国关键系统生产能力的影响，并优先考虑那些国防投资和战略重要性符合美国国家安全优先事项的盟友。 这份命令要求美国战争部、国务院和商务部确保美国的武器转让支持那些被认为与国家安全战略最相关的武器系统，加强关键供应链，并优先考虑那些已投资自身国防并占据战略重要地区的伙伴国家。 美国政府认为，过去的武器转让政策允许外国需求影响美国的生产决策，导致积压、成本超支和交货延迟，使得美国军方及其盟友需要等待数年才能获得关键装备。 白宫在一份情况说明书中指出：“‘美国优先武器转让战略’现在将利用每年超过3000亿美元的国防销售额，战略性地推动美国再工业化，并迅速交付美国制造的武器，以帮助我们的伙伴和盟友建立威慑力量并保卫自身。” 这项行政命令的核心目标是加快美国对外军售流程，而美国国防官员和行业领导者长期以来一直批评该流程缓慢且官僚主义严重。该命令指示联邦机构寻找简化加强最终用途监控要求、第三方转让审批，以及美国国会通知流程的方法，特朗普政府表示，正是这些环节导致美国武器出口海外的交付时间长达数年之久。 该命令还设立了一个新的“促进美国军售工作组”，负责监督战略的实施，并跟踪政府各部门的主要国防销售情况。为了提高问责制，特朗普政府表示，各机构将被要求发布季度汇总绩效指标，以显示国防销售案例的执行速度。 这项战略也标志着美国在如何确定合作伙伴优先顺序方面发生了转变。该行政命令指示政府优先考虑那些投资自身国防并占据战略重要地区的国家，从而有效地将武器销售决策与美国的军事规划和地理战略重点更紧密地联系起来。 如果其他合作伙伴的请求与美国的战略或产业目标不符，可能面临更长的等待时间或较低的优先级别。尽管该行政命令没有点名具体国家，但它反映出美国正努力将有限的生产能力集中用于那些被认为对执行国家安全战略至关重要的盟友。 该行政命令还指示美国战争部、美国国务院和美国商务部“在加强最终用途监控标准、第三方转让程序和国会通报程序方面提高效率”。 据报道，美国国会可能会密切关注政府如何执行该命令，特别是旨在加快对美国武器出口后的监管以及向国会议员通报重大军售交易的条款。美国国会议员们认为这些措施有助于防止美国武器被滥用，但他们也批评了导致武器交付给盟友延迟的现象。 这项命令是特朗普总统近期采取的一系列与国防相关的行政措施之一。2026年1月，他签署了一项命令，指示美国国防承包商优先考虑生产能力、创新和按时交付，而不是股票回购和其他公司分红。 此前，特朗普总统于2025年4月曾签署一项旨在提高对外军售系统效率和问责制的命令，以及在2025年1月签署了一项旨在实现美国国防采购现代化，并减少美国国防工业基础领域繁文缛节的命令。
2月6日华盛顿报道，美国司法部最新公布的文件显示，负责审查恋童癖性犯罪者爱泼斯坦（Jeffrey Epstein）的死亡当晚监控录像的调查人员发现，在 2019 年 8 月 9 日晚上 10 点 39 分左右，有一个橙色物体沿着楼梯向上移动，朝着他所在牢房所在的那层与外界隔绝且上锁的区域移动。 该观察日志中关于市监狱中心监控录像的记录显示了一些此前未曾被当局提及的情况：“一道橙色的光似乎正从 L 层楼梯上升起——这可能是一名被带往该楼层的囚犯。”…
2月5日华盛顿报道，在阿富汗战争中牺牲的美国陆军参谋军士奥利斯（Michael Ollis）的妹妹金伯利（Kimberly Ollis-Losciavo）表示，她哥哥在阿富汗一次自杀式炸弹袭击中为拯救他人牺牲后，在奥巴马和拜登执政期间，都没有获得过牺牲军人的荣誉。 2013年8月28日，年仅24岁的奥利斯在阿富汗执行任务时，为保护一名波兰军官免受自杀式炸弹袭击，用自己的身体挡住了爆炸冲击波，不幸牺牲。 奥利斯的妹妹证实，奥利斯的英勇行为挽救了当晚在基地内的许多其他波兰和美国军官的生命，他理应获得表彰。表示，特朗普总统在13年后给她哥哥追授了荣誉勋章，这项决定带来了期待已久的认可。 金伯利描述了她得知哥哥获得表彰后的感受，她说该消息是特朗普总统通过电话告知她父母的，这种感觉是“感激、喜忧参半、得到了认可”。 金伯利说：“最终，在他长达13年没有得到联邦政府认可之后，他的行为终于得到了肯定。” 她说，她的兄弟在斯塔滕岛和新泽西州当地被一些认识他们一家的人所认可，但在联邦层面并没有被认可。 金伯利说，她的妹妹在2013年曾写信给奥巴马总统，请求为奥利斯争取官方认可，但遭到了拒绝。奥利斯的牺牲在特朗普总统第一任期内曾被重新审理，但在拜登执政期间又被搁置。 金伯利说：“我们决定成立一个基金会，是因为我们非常热爱我们的社区，并且希望帮助其他人像迈克一样生活。所以，我们没有沉浸在悲伤中，而是付诸行动，努力工作……我们的社区和基金会也因此发展壮大。” 金伯利说，她家开始在社交媒体上受到关注，他们为与军事相关的慈善事业筹款，甚至还有一艘斯塔滕岛渡轮以奥利斯的名字命名。她还说：“现在特朗普总统重新启动了这个案子，我们终于把这件事提交到了五角大楼。所有人都同意授予他荣誉勋章。我们感到非常激动。”
全美电视2月5日华盛顿报道，美国总统特朗普今天推出了一个名为TrumpRx.gov 的网站，这是一个由特朗普政府支持的新网站，旨在让美国民众能够获得折扣处方药。 今天晚间在白宫举行的该网站启动仪式上，特朗普总统表示，美国人长期以来为处方药支付的价格远高于其他国家的消费者，并称这种价格差异前所未有的。 特朗普总统表示：“美国人长期以来一直在为药品支付世界上最高的价格，而其他国家却只需支付同样药品价格的零头，我们实际上每年都在以数百亿美元的代价补贴全世界。” 特朗普总统还说，尽管美国人口在全球人口中所占比例很小，但美国人却承担着不成比例的药品费用，“美国人口仅占世界人口的4%，却消耗了全球处方药总量的13%。” 特朗普总统指出，随后证实新的协议将改变这种局面，“根据我的政府谈判达成的协议，美国将支付所有国家中最低的价格，我们将获得世界上任何地方的最低价格。你们将支付的就是这个价格。” 特朗普总统承诺说：“对美国来说，价格大幅下降——降幅高达300%、400%、500%，甚至600%。在某些情况下，降幅甚至更大。” 特朗普总统今天在白宫的一场活动上宣布了该网站的上线，出席活动的还有医疗保险和医疗补助服务中心主任奥兹（ Mehmet Oz)，以及国家设计工作室主任格比亚（Joe Gebbia)。 此前，特朗普政府已与全球16家最大的制药公司达成了所谓的“最惠国待遇”定价协议，此次推出的网站正是基于这些协议。 特朗普总统表示：“所有这些折扣以及更多优惠将从今天开始在 TrumpRx.gov 网站上直接提供给消费者，”…