LOS ANGELES (CNS) – With the county urging residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19, health officials said on Wednesday that skilled nursing facilities had almost completed administering reminders to residents.

According to the county public health department, 97% of qualified nursing homes have indicated that they will complete the administration of the booster injections to residents by Friday. County officials said they were working with the remaining facilities to ensure residents have access to the snaps.

“I am grateful that nearly all of the county’s skilled nursing facilities are completing COVID-19 boosters to their eligible residents this week,” county public health director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “We know from experience that nursing home residents are among our most vulnerable people disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Lives are saved by protecting those at high risk with vaccines and boosters, maintaining simple safety measures, and increasing immunization coverage across the country. ”

According to the county, 96% of trained nursing staff and 89% of residents are fully immunized. All staff should be vaccinated, but those with approved exemptions should be tested weekly.

The county reported 22 more deaths from COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total death toll to 26,923.

1,284 more cases have also been reported, giving the county a running total throughout the pandemic of 1,514,282.

According to state figures, 616 COVID-positive patients were being treated in county hospitals on Wednesday, up from 640 on Tuesday. Of those hospitalized, 155 were in intensive care, compared to 162.

The daily moving average rate of people testing positive for the virus was 1.2% on Wednesday, a number that has generally held steady.

As of last week, 81% of county residents aged 12 and over have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, and 73% are fully immunized. Of the county’s 10.3 million people, 70% have received at least one dose and 63% are fully immunized.

Of the more than 5.9 million fully vaccinated people in the county, 72,163 have subsequently tested positive, for a rate of 1.22%, according to the county. A total of 2,424 vaccinated people were hospitalized, for a rate of 0.041%, and 396 died, or a rate of 0.007%.