LOS ANGELES—The number of COVID-19-positive patients in Los Angeles County hospitals fell again Oct. 9, declining from 696 on Friday to 670, according to state figures. The number of those patients in intensive care dropped from 206 to 202. It was the 35th time in the last 40 days that the number of COVID-19 patients in county hospitals has declined, down from a summer peak of nearly 1,800 brought on by the more contagious Delta variant. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported 1,195 new cases of COVID-19 and 28 additional deaths Saturday, bringing the county’s cumulative totals to 1,469,790 cases and 26,308 deaths since the pandemic began. Officials have said that about 90% of the fatalities associated with COVID-19 occurred in people with underlying health conditions. Saturday’s test positivity rate was 0.93 percent. Friday marked the first full day of new COVID-19 vaccination requirements for employees and …