By Jorge Casuso

April 26, 2021 -- Santa Monica hit its lowest weekly number of COVID-19 cases in more than seven months with 21 new cases confirmed last week, down from 52 the previous week.

That marked the fewest weekly cases in Santa Monica since the week ending September 13, when 17 cases of the virus were reported, according to an analysis of County health data as of Sunday.

Last week's tally was the second lowest since eight local coronavirus cases were reported in the week ending May 18, two months after the pandemic first hit the city ("Coronavirus Cases in Santa Monica Dropped to Record Low Level Last Week," May 26, 2020).

There were no COVID-related deaths reported last week, marking the first time in six months that a week passed without a local resident dyng with the virus.

To date, there have been 4,760 confirmed cases reported in the city of some 93,000 and 182 deaths.

The local downward trend reflects declining case and death rates in both Los Angeles County and the State, which has gone from having the most cases per capita in the nation to the fewest.

As of Sunday, LA County Public Health officials identified 1,231,806 positive cases of COVID-19 and a total of 23,777 deaths in the County of more than 10 million.

The County's case rate remains "relatively low and stable," health officials said.

More more 6,443,000 LA County residents have been tested for the virus, with 18 percent testing positive. Sunday's daily test positivity rate was 0.7 percent.

Between March 28 and April 18, the daily average number of reported cases fell from 424 to 371, a decline of 13 percent.

Over the same period, the daily average confirmed hospitalizations decreased from 658 to 474, a drop of 28 percent, while the number of deaths fell 71 percent, from 17 to 5 over the past three and a half weeks, health officials said.

As of April 23, more than 7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in LA County -- 4,425,452 first doses and 2,580,308 second doses.

A total of 48,510 Santa Monica residents had been vaccinated as of Friday, according to County Health data.

On Monday, City officials announced that starting next Monday, Santa Monica’s Permit Services Center public counter will begin offering in-person services by appointment on select days.

“As we continue to make progress in our recovery, we’ll continue to expand in-person services in the months to come," said Acting Assistant City Manager Susan Cline.

To schedule an appointment, visit http://checkin.smgov.net The counters also will continue to be available remotely online.

The Santa Monica Animal Shelter will also re-open its doors for walk-in services beginning May 1, City officials announced Monday. Adoptions continue to be by appointment only.

Those who visit a City facility must wear a face mask and maintain physical distancing, City officials said.

Additional services will be announced in the weeks to come in accordance with Los Angeles County Public Health guidelines, officials said.

For a timeline on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and shutdown on Santa Monica see "Santa Monica in the Year of COVID," March 16, 2021.