Los Angeles County on Thursday reported another 839 new COVID-19 cases, representing a 165% increase from last week.

The rate of people testing positive for the virus rose to 2.5% -- still a low number but more than double the 1.2% rate of a week ago.

The rolling average number of daily new infections in the county rose to 3.47 per 100,000 residents as of Thursday, roughly double the 1.74 per 100,000 rate of last week.

According to state figures, there were 320 COVID patients in L.A. County hospitals as of Thursday. On June 16, there were 220 people hospitalized in the county. While the current number is still far below the winter-surge levels of about 8,000 hospitalizations and medical centers are in no immediate danger of being overwhelmed, patient numbers have been steadily increasing since mid-June.

There were 79 people in intensive care beds due to COVID in the county as of Thursday, up from 71 on Wednesday, according to state figures. The state numbers are generally one day ahead of those reported daily by the county Department of Public Health.

This comes as officials continue to monitor the Delta variant, which now accounts for more than half of new COVID-19 cases across the country.

In California, the variant accounts for more than 35.6% of the state's cases analyzed in June. In May, it was just 5.6%.

L.A. County health officials have recommended wearing masks inside regardless of vaccination status and have said that a majority of new cases, including those that result in hospitalization or death, are among those who haven't received the shot.

Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer says we're in a much better position to control those numbers due to the vaccine.

"It is important for us to recognize that, between the case numbers increasing significantly and the test positivity increasing significantly, over a very short period of time, we have increased transmission," Ferrer said.

As of Thursday about 60% of county residents 16 and older are fully vaccinated.

https://abc7.com/los-angeles-coronavirus-covid-cases-delta-variant-masks-indoors/10872209/