Los Angeles County Announces 36 New Deaths Related to 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

1,445 New Cases of Confirmed COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 36 new deaths and 1,445 new cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Twenty-five people who died were over the age of 65 years old; nine people who died were between the ages of 41 and 65 years old, and one person who died was between the ages of 18 and 40 years old. Twenty-nine people had underlying health conditions including 22 people over the age of 65 years old, six people between the ages of 41 to 65 years old, and one person between the ages of 18 and 40 years old. One death was reported by the City of Long Beach.

To date, Public Health has identified 61,045 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, and a total of 2,565 deaths. Ninety-four percent of people who died had underlying health conditions. Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 2,373 people (99 percent of the cases reported by Public Health) 41% of deaths occurred among Latino/Latinx residents, 28% among White residents, 18% among Asian residents, 12% among African American residents, 1% among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and residents identifying with other races. Upon further investigation, 50 cases and two deaths reported earlier were not LA County residents. As of today, 6,833 people who tested positive for COVID-19 (11% of positive cases) have been hospitalized at some point during their illness. There are 1,488 people who are currently hospitalized, 29% of these people are in the ICU and 20% are on ventilators. Testing capacity continues to increase in LA County, with testing results available for nearly 672,000 individuals and 8% of people testing positive.

Testing capacity continues to increase across skilled nursing facilities in LA County with support from Public Health, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and the City of Los Angeles. As of yesterday, 244 skilled nursing facilities have tested all residents and staff, and an additional 71 are scheduled for testing.  Of the over 18,000 people tested among both residents and staff, 9% tested positive for COVID-19 and only 14% of the people who tested positive were symptomatic. The low number of symptomatic people suggests that some individuals may not yet have developed symptoms, but also highlights the possibility that there may be, in any setting, significant numbers of people positive for COVID-19 with no symptoms.  Public Health continues to assist skilled nursing facilities complete testing, conduct on-site inspections and survey bed capacity, staffing capacity and availability of personal protective equipment.

“The loss of our neighbors, friends and loved ones across our communities is felt by all of us.  To those who are mourning, we mourn with you.  You are in our thoughts and prayers every day,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “We are ending this very difficult week with a continued commitment to work hard to address injustice in systems that have life and death consequences for communities of color and this includes working on increasing resources around COVID-19 testing, care and support in all communities disproportionately affected by the virus.”

Public Health continues to track disproportionality in health outcomes by race, ethnicity and income level data of people who have been tested, hospitalized and died from COVID-19. African Americans, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, and people living in communities with high levels of poverty continue to have the highest rate of death per 100,000 people for COVID-19 when compared to other groups. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders have a death rate of 30 per 100,000, African Americans have a death of 31 per 100,000, Latinos/Latinxs have a death of 29 per 100,000, Asians have a death rate of 21 per 100,000, and Whites have a death rate of 15 per 100,000. People who live in areas with high rates of poverty have almost four times the rate of deaths for COVID-19 with 51 per 100,000 people, compared with communities with very low poverty levels who had a death rate of 13 per 100,000. Public Health continues collaboration with community, healthcare, and philanthropic partners to improve testing, connection to care and services, and in-language and culturally appropriate communications to the communities experiencing these inequitable outcomes.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of widespread transmission, everyone should always wear a face covering securely over their nose and mouth and keep six feet apart from others not in your household when out and about.  Businesses that are allowed to reopen must continue to implement their physical distancing and infection control protocols that protect both employees and customers. If you have been in a crowded setting, where people are congregating who are not using face coverings or distancing, please also consider the following:

• If you live with persons who are elderly or have high risk conditions, you should also maintain a six-foot distance and wear a face covering when you are with them at home, avoid preparing food for others, sharing utensils, bedding and towels, and increase cleaning and disinfecting of common surfaces.

Please remember that if you are tested soon after exposure, this may not indicate if this exposure will result in you becoming positive for the virus. Testing negative for COVID-19 right after you’ve been exposed does not mean you can’t become infected later during the incubation period, so please stay away from others for 14 days after possible exposure.

The Safer at Work and in the Community Health Officer Order, Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, Recovery Dashboard, and additional things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

The best protection against COVID-19 continues to be to wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, self-isolate if you are sick, practice physical distancing and wear a clean face covering when in contact with others from outside your household.

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