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L.A. County seeing more cases of new omicron subvariant

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Whereas coronavirus case numbers proceed to say no in Los Angeles County, officers on Monday warned that the brand new omicron subvariant has been more and more popping up.

The extra infectious subvariant, BA.2, is step by step spreading within the county.

Over the last week of February, the brand new variant accounted for 6.4% of all sequenced specimens in L.A. County. That’s a rise from the week earlier than, when that quantity was 4.5%.

L.A. County Director of Public Well being Barbara Ferrer mentioned which means that the area must be ready “for the potential of extra instances within the close to future.”

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“And whereas discouraging to face this risk, the easiest way to blunt one other surge in instances from growing hospitalizations and deaths is to extend vaccination and booster protection,” Ferrer added in a press release.

Considerations over the brand new subvariant are rising because the U.S. relaxes COVID-19 restrictions on native, state and federal ranges — although California officers have signaled that they might reinstate restrictions if vital.

Given the rise of BA.2, Ferrer urged unvaccinated residents to make use of the subsequent couple of weeks to get their photographs.

“Ready till we begin seeing will increase in instances shouldn’t be optimum, since as soon as there are extra individuals testing optimistic, there may be already extra neighborhood transmission,” Ferrer mentioned.

L.A. County is now recovering from an omicron-fueled surge that despatched an infection numbers skyrocketing to file highs in the course of the winter.

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With the virus loosening its grip on the county in latest weeks, officers have eased vaccine verification guidelines and allowed residents to shed their masks in most indoor locations.

It stays unclear how the brand new omicron subvariant will affect the progress made thus far.

BA.2 now accounts for a couple of third of all sequenced specimens nationally, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

The Northeast U.S. is seeing increased percentages of BA.2 than different areas, with the subvariant accounting for practically 30% of instances in New York Metropolis, 20% of the instances within the Midwest and 20% in Chicago.

Whereas L.A. County’s fee is decrease than that of different cities, the numbers are following the same sample seen when earlier variants that emerged and swiftly unfold all through the area, county Division of Public Well being officers mentioned.

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A COVID-19 resurgence in components of Europe has additionally raised worries that one other surge is on the best way for the U.S.

“Keep in mind that the pandemic — whereas we’re in a lull proper now — shouldn’t be over,” UCLA Professor of Epidemiology Dr. Anne Rimoin instructed KTLA.

Rimoin mentioned extra variants will emerge, and a few can be extra critical than others.

“What we’re seeing within the U.Okay. is a big improve in instances,” Rimoin mentioned. “We’re not seeing a rise in severity, which is nice information.”

Nevertheless, the professor warned that the U.S. may start seeing the identical traits Europe is seeing.

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“We all know that what occurs within the U.Okay., or in Europe, ultimately occurs right here a number of weeks later,” Rimoin mentioned.

The nation’s prime infectious illness professional, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has mentioned that he wouldn’t be shocked if case numbers started to climb within the U.S. within the subsequent few weeks.

“I’d not be shocked in any respect, if we do see considerably of an uptick,” Fauci instructed the Washington Publish. “The extent of it and the diploma to which it impacts seriousness of illness like hospitalizations and dying stays to be seen. I don’t actually see, except one thing adjustments dramatically, that there could be a serious surge.”

Nonetheless, officers are urging residents to roll up their sleeves and get innoculated in the event that they haven’t already.

“Residents ought to be ready to mitigate the danger of elevated transmission related to this extra infectious subvariant,” well being officers instructed residents Monday.

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The concern is for many who haven’t been vaccinated and boosted.

To date, 83% of L.A. County residents aged 5 and older have obtained a minimum of one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. About 75% have been absolutely vaccinated.

Simply 57% of eligible residents aged 12 and older have gotten the booster.

Gaps in vaccine protection differ by race, ethnicity, age and site, with many “many pockets of vulnerability” throughout the county, well being officers mentioned.

Components of the San Gabriel Valley, South Central L.A. and the Antelope Valley have decrease vaccination protection than different areas within the county.

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And thus far, solely 30% of youngsters between the ages of 5 and 11 are absolutely vaccinated.

Los Angeles, Ca

Two stabbed in another night of violence on L.A.'s Metro system

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Two stabbed in another night of violence on L.A.'s Metro system

A woman attacked at a subway station in the Athens area was just one of two people stabbed on the Los Angeles Metro system Monday night.

The first incident was reported around 9 p.m. as the woman was on an elevator that takes riders from the 105 Freeway median to the Vermont/Athens Station.

The suspect is believed to have boarded a train and fled the scene after slashing the woman’s arm.

  • Deputies investigate a stabbing on a Metro station in Athens on May 13, 2024.
  • Deputies investigate a stabbing on a Metro station in Athens on May 13, 2024.
  • A bloody shirt is seen during an investigation into a stabbing on a Metro station in Athens on May 13, 2024.

A blood-soaked shirt was seen lying on a sidewalk near the elevator, which was blocked off with crime scene tape while deputies investigated and took photos.

The unidentified victim was taken to a local hospital and has been released, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed.

The suspect was wearing all black and was last seen on a westbound train headed toward the Hawthorne/Lennox Station, the spokesperson said.

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Meanwhile, another stabbing was reported around 7:30 p.m. Monday after a fight broke out aboard a Metro bus in Glendale.

The bus driver flagged down police who took two juveniles into custody.

The victim, also described by the spokesperson as a juvenile, was transported with a non-life-threatening injury.

One person involved in the incident remains outstanding.

Monday’s attacks come amid a series of violent incidents, including a stabbing that left one woman dead in Studio City and the stabbing of a bus driver in South Los Angeles that has plagued the Metro system this year.

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The ongoing attacks led to Metro bus drivers staging a “sick out” and one Metro board member saying she was “afraid” and would not ride the system alone.

The board recently approved the acquisition of barriers to be placed between drivers and passengers on all Metro buses.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Man shot dead by Southern California deputies amid probation compliance check

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Man shot dead by Southern California deputies amid probation compliance check

Deputies with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department shot and killed a man Monday morning during a probation compliance check, officials announced.  

The incident unfolded just after 8 a.m. when Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Riverside Alternative Sentencing Program were conducting a compliance check in the 3300 block of Albillo Loop in Perris, a sheriff’s department news release stated.  

At the scene, authorities say there were multiple adults in the backyard of the residence and that one of the individuals provided false identifying information and attempted to walk away, refusing commands by deputies to stop.  

“Deputies deployed a taser to attempt to gain compliance, but it was ineffective, and the suspect continued to walk away,” the release stated. “The suspect then produced a handgun and a deputy-involved shooting occurred.” 

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After the man was struck by gunfire, authorities say deputies rendered medical aid until paramedics arrived and took him to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.  

“The involved deputy will be placed on paid administrative leave according to Department policy. The name of the suspect and the involved deputy will not be released at this time,” authorities said. 

No further injuries to deputies or citizens were reported.  

The shooting will be investigated by a detective with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the sheriff’s department’s Force Investigation Detail.  

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact Riverside County Senior District Attorney Investigator JR Ferrer or Riverside County Sheriff’s Investigator Jason Letterly at 951-955-2777.  

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One of Disneyland's oldest attractions is getting a $5 million makeover

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One of Disneyland's oldest attractions is getting a $5 million makeover

A classic Disneyland attraction, home to a standing President Abraham Lincoln audio-animatronic, has undergone an extensive $5 million refurbishment.

The attraction, which has been closed since April 16, is getting a much-needed facelift. The $5 million set aside for the refurbishment will be used to replace show elements, lighting, audio, show sounds and more, according to city records.

Scott Gustin, a digital team member at Nexstar Media Group Inc., shared some of the permit filings on X, formally known as Twitter.

Nexstar Media Group Inc. is the parent company of KTLA.

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A re-opening date for the attraction has yet to be announced, but it is expected to remain closed at least through June 19, according to the Orange County Register, which first reported the news.  

Disneyland officials confirmed that the Lincoln audio-animatronic figure won’t be going anywhere, the publication reported.

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction first premiered at Disneyland in 1965. It was born after the animatronic Abraham Lincoln was a huge hit at the New York World’s Fair, according to its landing page on the Disneyland website.

The Mr. Lincoln audio-animatronic was widely popular among attendees. Audience members were convinced that the Lincoln figure was an actor rather than a robotic machine.

The latest refurbishment project at Disneyland comes as crews work on other projects, like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Critter Country and the Haunted Mansion, around the park.

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