LOS ANGELES, Calif. Sept 10 – Tomorrow, Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12, Public Health will make improvements to the data processing systems which will result in no new data being reported on those days. Neither the collection of this data nor outbreak investigations will be affected by this pause in reporting; however, no press releases will be issued during this system’s upgrade.
Los Angeles County’s 7-day cumulative case rate decreased 35% from last week to 104 new cases per 100,000 residents. This is the third week in a row of decreases in the County’s case rate. Overall, the County has seen a 50% decrease from the peak of 204 cases per 100,000 on August 19.
These recent declines may reflect the masking requirements implemented early in the surge and the small increases in the County’s vaccination coverage. Other parts of the country that do not have masking requirements and don’t have as much vaccination coverage have not seen these significant declines in cases.
Today, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) confirms 50 new deaths and 2,024 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 50 new deaths reported today, 12 people who passed away were over the age of 80, 13 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, 14 people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, five people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49, and two people who died were between the ages of 18 and 29. Two deaths were reported by the City of Long Beach and two deaths were reported by the City of Pasadena. To date, Public Health identified 1,427,817 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 25,611 deaths.
The County has seen deaths rise over the course of August, the expected consequence of the July surge in cases. Death rates continue to be nearly flat in all vaccinated groups.
There are 1,368 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized, a decrease of 273 people over the past week.
Testing results are available for nearly 8,313,000 individuals with 16% of people testing positive. Today’s test positivity rate is 2.5%.
The Delta variant now accounts for 100% of the COVID-19 strains seen among samples sequenced in the Los Angeles County area. This variant is more infectious and more efficiently transmitted between people compared with earlier COVID-19 strains. While emerging data affirms that fully vaccinated people are well protected from severe infections with Delta variants, it now is clear that fully vaccinated people can become infected, and if infected with Delta, can infect others.
As a result of reanalyzing many samples with an updated version of the genetic library used to identify variants, a lab that performs much of the variant sequencing reclassified many older specimens as Mu or Lambda variants, resulting in an increase in the total number of these variants reported linked to L.A. County residents. To date, 232 cases linked to Mu variants and 28 cases linked to Lambda variants have been identified. Most of those specimens were collected earlier in the summer.
“To everyone who has lost friends and family during this difficult time, we are wishing you peace and comfort, and our prayers remain with you,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “These continued losses are unbearable, especially because so many are preventable by widely available and extremely safe COVID-19 vaccines. While it is encouraging to see a significant decrease in cases, we have a long way to go to get back to low transmission rates. In order to continue making progress, we need to close gaps in vaccination coverage. Wherever we have large numbers of unvaccinated individuals, there is great risk with Delta of widespread transmission that includes people who are fully vaccinated.”
As of September 5, 91% of L.A. County residents 65 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, 76% of residents 16 and over and 75% of residents 12 and over. Sixty-six percent of residents 12 and over have been fully vaccinated. Sixty-four percent of L.A. County teens between the ages of 12 and 17 received at least one dose and 54% are fully vaccinated. Countywide, more than 54,000 additional doses have been administered by L.A. County providers as a third dose for people who are immunocompromised. Out of the nearly 10.3 million L.A. County residents, including those who are not yet eligible for the vaccine, 65% have received at least one dose, and 57% are fully vaccinated.
Among the more than 5.3 million fully vaccinated people in L.A. County, Public Health identified 43,598 people fully vaccinated who tested positive for COVID-19 as of September 7; this remains less than 1% of all those vaccinated have become infected with COVID-19. Of those who tested positive, 1,243 were hospitalized, up from 1,049 the week prior. This translates to 0.023% of all fully vaccinated people were hospitalized. Deaths in this group over this interval increased, from 118 to 165, to 0.0031%. When we have a vaccine that provides excellent protection from COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths but somewhat less protection from infection and transmission, we will see rising infections among vaccinated people, especially when community transmission is high. In April of this year, the case rate ratio indicated unvaccinated people were 6.5 times more likely than vaccinated people to become infected. As the months progressed, the rate ratio slowly declined as more vaccinated people tested positive for COVID-19. Nonetheless, unvaccinated people remain 4 times more likely to get COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated. Also, in April of this year, the ratio for hospitalizations indicated vaccinated people were more than 5 times less likely than unvaccinated people to be hospitalized for COVID-19. Since April, the protective effect of vaccination on hospitalization has nearly doubled, with unvaccinated people nearly 12 times less likely to be hospitalized than vaccinated people in August of this year. Deaths among unvaccinated people were exceedingly rare. Even with the small increase in deaths among those fully vaccinated during the late summer, in July and August, unvaccinated individuals were 10 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those vaccinated. These findings reassure us that the vaccine is doing its very important work of dramatically reducing illness and suffering from COVID-19 among the people who are vaccinated.
Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated against COVID-19. Many vaccination sites across the county, including all the County-run sites, are also offering third doses of vaccine to eligible immunocompromised people. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.
9月17日，由联合国委托的人权专家表示，他们已发现“合理依据”相信美国在伊朗境内的两次袭击中犯下了战争罪，其中包括针对南部城市米纳布（Minab）一所学校的袭击。 负责调查伊朗问题的国际实况调查团指出，调查结果主要针对两次空袭，这两次袭击导致至少178名平民丧生，其中包括妇女和儿童。 实况调查小组在一份声明中表示：“继美国和以色列于2月28日发动袭击后，调查团发现有合理依据相信，美国犯下了发动无差别攻击的战争罪，导致平民伤亡或民用设施受损。” 该小组还指出，伊朗国家安全部队在伊朗境内实施的杀戮行为规模“惊人”。 据新闻网站 Axios 今天报道，特朗普总统计划于9月22日在纽约联合国大会期间会见波斯湾国家的领导人，讨论与伊朗的战争问题。 报道称，此次会晤预计将重点讨论美国关于战后局势的战略规划，尽管目前尚无迹象表明会出现旨在结束冲突的新协议。 据报道，一位以色列消息人士告诉 Axios，以色列总理本雅明·内塔尼亚胡也希望与特朗普会面，但目前尚未安排相关行程。 许多波斯湾国家境内驻有美军基地；作为对美以空袭的报复，伊朗在数月间向这些国家发动了密集的导弹和无人机袭击。 特朗普9月16日曾表示，伊朗有意达成协议，这也是他一贯坚持的说法，并补充道：“希望我们正处于战争即将结束的阶段。” 伊朗官员始终表示，除非美国接受其提出的条件，否则无意达成和平协议；这些条件的核心是重返特朗普与其伊朗同行于6月签署的一份谅解备忘录所确立的原则。伊朗指责美国在协议签署后立即违约，继续维持海军封锁，导致该协议在短短几周内便宣告破裂。 此外，就在美伊两国目前处于僵持状态之际，特朗普政府今天突然批准了包括伊朗总统和外交部长在内的伊朗高层官员的签证，允许他们前往纽约参加下周举行的本届联合国大会高级别会议。 美国国务院今天表示，已批准伊朗“核心代表团”及必要随行人员参加联合国会议的签证。据因签证隐私法规而要求匿名的美国官员透露，该伊朗政府核心代表团成员包括伊朗总统马苏德·佩泽希齐扬（Masoud…
9月16日，美联储上调了利率，这是自2023年以来的首次加息；此举标志着政策方向的转变，背景是伊朗战事推高了全球能源价格并加剧了通胀。 美联储将联邦基金利率上调了0.25个百分点，使目标区间升至3.75%至4%，这是自2025年12月以来的最高水平。该基准利率影响着美国经济各领域的借贷成本，包括信用卡、汽车贷款和个人贷款。此次借贷成本的上升正值美国民众承受汽油、食品及其他生活必需品价格上涨压力之际。 美联储在一份季度预测报告中还暗示，其利率制定委员会预计将在今年晚些时候进一步加息。美联储在今天的一份声明中表示，此次加息决定获得了一致通过。 不过，就目前而言，美联储的该举措似乎并不意味着将开启一轮激进的加息周期。美联储主席凯文·沃什（Kevin Warsh）今天表示，决策者预计将在2027年全年维持利率不变。 沃什在利率决议公布后的新闻发布会上说：“ 5年多来，通胀率一直高于目标水平，因此，我们主要关注的是自身使命中关于价格稳定的部分。显而易见的事实是，通胀率过高，且这种高通胀状态持续的时间已过长。” 约半数联邦公开市场委员会（FOMC）成员预测，明年利率将保持稳定。相比之下，随着经济从疫情中复苏，央行自2022年起连续11次加息，旨在遏制飙升的通胀。然而，此次加息标志着美联储立场发生了重大转变，年初时通胀正在降温，当时许多经济学家曾预计央行会在2026年期间下调利率。如今，货币政策制定者却祭出了抑制物价的最强有力手段。8月份消费者价格指数（CPI）同比上涨3.4%，远高于美联储2%的年度目标。 特朗普总统曾多次呼吁美联储降低借贷成本。但中东冲突的升级扰乱了原油生产与供应，推高了美国的燃料价格，进而增加了整个经济体系的成本。 沃什今天在谈及特朗普总统可能如何回应此次加息时表示：“关于与总统的讨论，我无可奉告。” 特朗普总统今天在美联储发布政策声明后，他在社交媒体平台“真实社交”（Truth Social）上发帖称，美国的利率“应该在1%或更低，因为我们拥有世界上，遥遥领先的最佳信用。” 特朗普总统还补充道：“降低美国的利率，而且要快！” 美联储的举措打乱了特朗普关于中期选举的经济宣传基调。利率上升可能导致购房或购车的美国人每月需多支付数百美元。较高的利率可以抑制通胀，因为消费者会削减支出，企业也会减少投资。随着需求放缓，这会给经济增长降温，并缓解物价上涨。 在沃什表示美国经济“似乎正在走强”并重申其遏制通胀的承诺后，美国股市出现下跌。一些投资者将他的言论解读为一种信号，表明美联储认为，如果最终需要通过进一步加息来控制通胀，经济是有能力承受的。…
9月16日麦迪逊市讯，美国运输安全管理局（TSA）称，一名旅客试图通过将一件危险物品藏在随身行李中来逃避100美元的行李费，但很快就被当场抓获。 根据该局官网站上发布的一篇报道，这名身份不明的乘客当时正在威斯康星州麦迪逊市的戴恩县地区机场（Dane County Regional Airport）通过安检，此时一名运输安全管理局安检员在X光机屏幕上发现了一个疑似刀具的物体。 据运输安全管理局称，安检人员随后搜查了该行李，发现这把刀被用胶带固定在行李内部。这名乘客后来承认，她试图向运输安全管理局隐瞒这把刀，因为她即将去露营。 运输安全管理局主管官员安德鲁·卡斯滕（Andrew Kasten）说：“她对我说：‘我当时试图向TSA隐瞒这把刀。’” 该乘客的供认，以及加上那把被藏匿的刀被发现，促使卡斯滕报警。 据美国运输安全管理局称，戴恩县（Dane County）治安官办公室人员及TSA经理安妮·卢（Annie Lu）赶赴了现场。该女子告诉执法人员，她原以为机场安检不会发现这把刀。 据运输安全管理局称，该乘客自称说自己选择不托运行李，是为了避免支付100美元的行李费。她以为运输安全管理局不会发现这把刀。 安检员卡莉·梅斯（Callie Meis）在该机构工作已有22年；她在X光扫描中发现了这把疑似刀具，随即标记了该行李，要求进行进一步检查。…
9月16日西雅图讯，根据今天发布的新闻稿，美国仓储式会员制商店好市多（Costco）和优步（Uber）扩大了双方在美国的餐饮与生鲜杂货外送平台优（Uber Eats）合作关系，服务范围从最初的美国17个州扩展至47个州。此次扩展意味着，好市多在美国的近 600 家门店将通过优食提供配送服务。 优步总裁兼首席运营官安德鲁·麦克唐纳（Andrew Macdonald ）在一份新闻稿中表示：“我们很高兴能将与好市多的合作扩展至全国范围，这不仅为 好市多会员提供了更多购物方式，也让更多消费者能够享受到该品牌备受推崇的精选商品与超值体验。好市多成为全美规模最大、最受信任的零售商之一绝非偶然；此次全国性合作也彰显了优步的规模优势与巨大潜力，能够助力那些致力于满足消费者日常购物需求的零售商。” 使用优食购物的用户在下单前需先验证其好市多会员身份。 作为此次合作的一部分，部分好市多会员还将有机会获得Uber One，该平台的付费会员服务的折扣优惠；同时，用户也可直接通过优食应用程序购买好市多的会员资格。 优步公司发言人还证实，所有好市多的商品均可通过优食平台进行配送。 此次合作有望扩大优食的客户群，并进一步向年轻一代消费者推广 好市多主打大宗商品采购的会员制购物模式。 此举正值优食在食品与杂货配送领域面临日益激烈的竞争之际。除了生鲜杂货即时配送平台…
9月15日，美国众议院少数共和党众议员对特朗普总统针对伊朗采取的行动提出批评，并与民主党人一道通过了一项旨在限制这位三军统帅战争权力的决议。尽管特朗普总统几乎肯定会行使否决权，该项由民主党提出的议案在国会两党议员的支持下获得了通过。 来自马萨诸塞州的民主党众议员塞斯·莫尔顿（Seth Moulton）提出了一项关于战争权力的决议案，并获得了14位民主党同僚的支持，其中包括来自科罗拉多州的杰森·克罗（Jason Crow）和来自华盛顿州的普拉米拉·贾亚帕尔（Pramila Jayapal）。然而，正是共和党议员的助力，促成了该法案的最终通过。 9月15日深夜，7名共和党众议员与全部213名参与投票的民主党议员联手，以220票对204票通过了这项决议。投反对票的包括203名共和党众议员，以及在党团活动中与共和党保持一致的加利福尼亚州独立派众议员凯文·基利（Kevin Kiley）。 密歇根州共和党众议员汤姆·巴雷特（Tom Barrett）在9月15日上午投票前对福克斯新闻数字频道（Fox News Digital）表示：“自军事行动开展60天后相关战争权力条款失效以来，我的立场始终如一。” 巴雷特（Barrett）与俄亥俄州共和党人众议员沃伦·戴维森（Warren Davidson)、宾夕法尼亚州共和党人布莱恩·菲茨帕特里克（Brian Fitzpatrick)、南卡罗来纳州共和党人南希·梅斯（Nancy Mace)、肯塔基州共和党人托马斯·马西（Thomas…
9月15日华盛顿讯，美国国务卿马尔科·卢比奥（Marco Rubio）今天在一份新闻声明中宣布，针对参与种族歧视行为的外国公民实施新签证限制。 声明指出，正如特朗普总统第14204号题为“应对南非共和国的恶劣行径”的行政命令中所述，美国对南非境内针对阿非利卡人（Afrikaners）及其他少数族裔群体的种族动机犯罪和政府支持的歧视行为深表关切，这些行为包括基于种族的歧视性立法、无偿征收土地的威胁，以及通过非人化口号煽动种族暴力。 声明还指出，鉴于南非政府未能充分解决此前提出的关切，我于今日宣布一项新的签证限制政策。该政策依据《移民与国籍法》第212(a)(3)(C)条制定，针对那些负责或协助制定及实施相关法律或政策的外国公民；这些法律或政策促成了无偿土地征收、种族歧视，和煽动针对南非少数族裔群体的迫在眉睫的暴力行为。美国绝不容忍此类行为不受制约。这些行为直接破坏了和平、经济稳定及法治，且与美国外交政策的基石背道而驰。 声明还指出，我们再次强烈敦促南非政府迅速解决这些恶劣行径。这项签证限制政策依据《移民与国籍法》第212(a)(3)(C)条实施；该条款授权国务卿认定某些外国人不得入境，若其入境“可能对美国的外交政策产生严重的不利后果”。相关限制措施也可能适用于这些人员的特定家庭成员。