Los Angeles County Announces 17 New Deaths Related to 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

1,003 New Cases of Confirmed COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 17 new deaths and 1,003 new cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Eight people who died were over the age of 65 years and five people who died were between the ages of 41 and 65 years old. Seven people had underlying health conditions including five people over the age of 65 years old and two people between the ages of 41 to 65 years old.

To date, Public Health has identified 73,018 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, and a total of 2,907 deaths. Ninety-three percent of people who died had underlying health conditions. Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 2,700 people (99 percent of the cases reported by Public Health); 41% of deaths occurred among Latino/Latinx residents, 29% among White residents, 17% among Asian residents, 11% among African American residents, less than 1% among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents and 1% among residents identifying with other races. Upon further investigation, eight cases reported earlier were not LA County residents. There are 1,383 people who are currently hospitalized, 30% 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 over 803,000 individuals and 8% of people testing positive.

Public Health continues to track health outcomes by race, ethnicity and income level data of people who have been tested, hospitalized and died from COVID-19. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders have a death rate of 52 per 100,000, African Americans have a death rate of 34 per 100,000, Latinos/Latinxs have a death rate of 33 per 100,000, Asians have a death rate of 23 per 100,000, and Whites have a death rate of 18 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 56 per 100,000 people, compared with communities with very low poverty levels who had a death rate of 15 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.

“So many have lost loved ones and friends to COVID-19, and we mourn with you. You are in our thoughts and prayers every day,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “For LA County to have a successful recovery journey, both businesses and residents must do their part to protect employees, customers and visitors. For businesses who are reopening, this means putting in place all of the required protocols for physical distancing and infection control before opening and ensuring that these protocols are followed by customers and employees every day.”

Public Health released a modified Health Officer Order on Friday, June 12, that is designed to help move the county of Los Angeles into stage 3 of California’s Pandemic Resilience Roadmap. The modified Health Officer order allows for the following sectors to reopen once they implement the required protocols for infection control and distancing:

• Gyms and fitness facilities
• Pro-league arenas without live audiences
• Day camps
• Museums, galleries, zoos and aquariums
• Campgrounds, RV parks and outdoor recreation
• Music, film and television production
• Hotels for leisure travel

As with all businesses that are permitted to reopen, the Health Officer Order contains protocols for reopening to ensure it is done as safely as possible for employees, customers and residents. Employees and visitors to these businesses will need to wear a cloth face covering when around other people and practice physical distancing of at least 6 feet at all times. Some employees may also be required to wear face shields. The directives are contained in sector-specific protocols that guide re-opening and are available online. It is important for everyone to follow the directives and to do their part every day to keep everyone as safe as possible.

The 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 Health Officer orders the continued closure of the following:

• Bars, wineries and brewery tasting rooms, lounges and nightclubs
• Cardrooms and satellite wagering facilities
• Public entertainment venues: movie theaters, live performance theaters, concert venues, theme parks and festivals
• Family entertainment centers such as bowling alleys, arcades, miniature golf and batting cages
• Personal care establishments including nail salons, body waxing, massage and body art establishments
• All playgrounds, except those within a school or childcare center
• Hot tubs, steam rooms and saunas not located on a residential property
• All events and gatherings, unless specifically allowed by the Order

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. People who have underlying health conditions remain at much greater risk for serious illness from COVID-19, so it will continue to be very important for the County’s vulnerable residents to stay at home as much as possible, to have groceries and medicine delivered, and to call their providers immediately if they have even mild symptoms.

Please see additional information below: