Public Health Cautions Residents to Avoid Crowds with COVID-19 Spread Increasing in L.A. County
Public Health Reports 15 New Deaths and 2,418 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 15 new deaths and 2,418 new cases of COVID-19. Today’s number of new cases surpasses yesterday’s high and is the third consecutive day of new cases over 2,000.
There are 840 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 30% of these people are in the ICU. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 increased this week and has remained over 800 hospitalized patients since Wednesday, November 4. This is in stark contrast to the data reported between mid-September and the end of October, where the daily number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was under 800 people.
Our metrics this week are concerning and confirm that transmission of COVID-19 is widespread and increasing in L.A County. To date, Public Health identified 319,977 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 7,170 deaths.
In order to get back to slowing the spread, Public Health urges everyone to avoid crowds and close contact with others not in your household because COVID-19 easily spreads among people who are in contact with an infected person. Public celebrations and protests where people are close to each other, unable to remain six feet apart, cheering and shouting, especially without face coverings, are places where it is very easy and very likely for COVID-19 to spread. Virus transmission can be significantly reduced if everyone always wears a face covering securely over their nose and mouth and maintains six feet distance from all others not in their household.
It is very important that if you are even mildly sick or think you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 that you stay home and away from other people, especially those at greater risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 and consider being tested for COVID-19. This is essential to prevent you from unintentionally spreading COVID-19 to other people.
“We send our deepest sympathies to the families and friends that are grieving the loss of their loved one to COVD-19,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “With today’s announcement of the presidential election results, many of us may want to gather with others to share this moment. The safest way to share your sentiments is through virtual platforms that keep you socially connected and physically distant. If you are unable to avoid gathering with others, please be sure to follow essential safety precautions: always wear a facing covering over your nose and mouth, keep at least 6 feet apart from those not in your household, and remain outdoors. Because we are still in the midst of a pandemic, we cannot afford to gather in ways that increase transmission of the virus. Let us remember that no matter how we feel, we all have an obligation to protect each other from COVID-19. Gathering with people outside of your household, especially in settings where people are shouting, chanting, or singing and not distancing can easily lead to increased cases of COVID-19. This will slow down our recovery and can result in more illness and deaths.”
Of the 15 new deaths reported today, four people that passed away were over the age of 80 years old, seven people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79 years old, two people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64 years old, and one person who died was between the ages of 18 and 29 years old. Fourteen people who died had underlying health conditions including four people over the age of 80, seven people between the ages of 65 and 79 years old, two people between the ages of 50 and 64 years old, and one person between the ages of 18 and 29 years old. One death was reported by the City of Long Beach.
Ninety-three percent of the people who died from COVID-19 had underlying health conditions. Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 6,760 people (99 percent of the cases reported by Public Health); 52% of deaths occurred among Latino/Latinx residents, 23% among White residents, 14% among Asian residents, 10% among African American/Black residents, less than 1% among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents and 1% among residents identifying with other races. Upon further investigation, 97 cases and two deaths reported earlier were not L.A. County residents.
Testing results are available for nearly 3,237,000 individuals with 9% of all people testing positive.
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.
