LOS ANGELES (CNS) — The number of COVID-19-positive patients in Los Angeles County hospitals fell below the 700 mark Friday, continuing a monthlong downward trend, but 30 more deaths were confirmed along with 1,204 new infections.

According to state figures, there were 696 COVID-positive patients hospitalized in the county as of Friday, with 206 of them in intensive care. That's down from 721 patients on Thursday, when 209 were in ICUs.

The number of COVID-positive people hospitalized in the county has fallen 34 times in the past 39 days, bringing the number down from a summer peak of nearly 1,800.

The 30 new COVID deaths reported by the county Department of Public Health on Friday lifted the county's overall pandemic death toll to 26,284. The 1,204 new cases lifted the cumulative total to 1,468,634 since the pandemic began.

The rolling daily average of people testing positive for the virus remained low, at 1.1% as of Friday.

Friday marked the first full day of new COVID-19 vaccination requirements for employees and customers at indoor portions of bars, wineries, distilleries, nightclubs and lounges in Los Angeles County. Employees and patrons of such businesses must show proof of at least one dose of vaccine, while two doses will be required beginning Nov. 4.

Unvaccinated customers and employees can still be in outdoor portions of affected establishments.

Meanwhile, people aged 12 and over attending outdoor mega-events of 10,000 or more people are now required to show proof of either full vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours. The requirement affects ticketed sporting events, outdoor concerts and theme parks that have 10,000 or more people in attendance.

Mask-wearing is also be required at all such events.

The vaccination-or-testing requirement was already in place for large indoor events of 1,000 people or more.

"We commend all the businesses and venues complying with the new vaccine verification requirements," county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. "Because unvaccinated people are five times more likely to get infected with COVID-19 and 23 times more likely to be hospitalized, creating more safety at worksites, large events and indoor establishments is best accomplished when most people are vaccinated." 

On Thursday, Ferrer said the county has seen an encouraging uptick over the past month in vaccinations among some key younger age groups.

The county still has persistent vaccination gaps among ethnic groups, with only 54% of Black residents and 63% of Latino/a residents having received at least one dose, compared to 72% of white residents and 82% of Asians.

"Although we continue to have large gaps in vaccination between age and racial and ethnic subgroups, this last month has brought some success, especially among younger residents," Ferrer said. "The greater increases were among our young American-Indian/Alaska Native residents, but we also saw great increases in vaccination among Black and Latinx youth and Black adults aged 30 to 49.

"We do thank those who recently decided to get vaccinated, and we hope that over the coming weeks, they serve as a reminder that we each have a role to play in preventing a devastating winter surge. This is especially true since there are still 1.3 million children that still cannot get vaccinated."

Ferrer said vaccination increases among younger residents could be the result of mandates for school students, but the approaching winter holidays could also be prompting families to get their kids inoculated.

"I think a lot of parents are saying, `You know, getting ready for the holidays, I want you vaccinated,"' she said. "... We've all lived through a devastating winter last year, so I think there's a lot greater push from family members for their teens to get vaccinated. 

"We're just glad to see the increase and I want to give a lot of credit — there are a lot of students that are talking to their peers after they do get vaccinated and saying, `It wasn't so bad, I feel better now and it's safer for me and my family and for the things I want to do.' And I think that helps other teens get confident enough to come in and get their dose."

Overall, 78% of eligible county residents aged 12 and up have received at least one dose of vaccine, while 70% are fully vaccinated. Of the county's overall 10.3 million population, including 1.3 million kids under age 12 who are ineligible for the shots, 67% have at least one dose, and 60% are fully vaccinated.

But Ferrer said the pace of vaccines remains slow, with only about 45,000 first doses administered over the past week.