L.A. County Experiences Highest New COVID-19 Deaths Reported in Months Following Surging COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations

Alarming Increases in Cases and Hospitalizations Must Slow to Avoid Overwhelming Healthcare System

Following surging COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks, today, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 51 new deaths and 3,692 new cases of COVID-19. This is the highest number of deaths reported since September 9.

COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to accelerate at alarming speed. There are 1,575 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 26% of these people are in the ICU.  Just two weeks ago, there were 888 people with COVID-19 hospitalized.

The increases in cases and hospitalizations must slow to avoid overwhelming our hospitals and healthcare staff, and save lives.

Anytime a person removes their mask and interacts in close distance with others not in their household, even outdoors, they risk either infecting another person with COVID-19 or becoming infected themselves.  The longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.

It is critical that everyone follow the simple public health safety measures that provide protection from COVID-19 and minimize spreading it to friends and family.

Everyone should stay home as much as possible and limit going out to what is essential for the next two to three weeks to slow the surging cases and save lives. Staying home as much as possible, always wearing face covering securely over your nose and mouth when out and avoiding being near anyone not in your household are the simple actions that slow the spread of COVID-19. Public Health urges residents to connect virtually with friends and family members you do not live with.

Testing results are available for more than 3,600,000 individuals with 10% of all people testing positive.  The cumulative positivity rate has increased. The cumulative positivity rate remained 9% over many weeks.

To date, Public Health identified 374,134 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 7,497 deaths. Upon further investigation, 194 cases reported earlier were not L.A. County residents.

Of the 51 new deaths reported today, 18 people that passed away were over the age of 80 years old, 19 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79 years old, 12 people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64 years old, and one person who died was between the ages of 30 and 49 years old. Forty-one  people who died had underlying health conditions including 15 people over the age of 80 years old, 17 people between the ages of 65 and 79 years old, eight people between the ages of 50 and 64 years old, and one person between the ages of 30 and 49 years old. One death was reported by the City of Pasadena.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the many families who are grieving the loss of a loved one due to COVID-19. We’re also thinking of all the people who are sick and hospitalized from COVID-19. We send you our warmest thoughts for a full recovery,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “People mixing with others not in their household has driven the COVID-19 pandemic in L.A. County to dangerous levels.  Because L.A. County reached a five-day average case rate over 4,500 new cases, Public Health is working with the Board of Supervisors on additional safety measures to reduce transmission of the virus. Public Health is recommending that gatherings only occur with members of your own household and occupancy at all sites be reduced to avoid crowding.”

Given the huge surge in cases nationwide, we strongly recommend that you only celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with people from your household and that you not gather with people from outside your household, even outdoors.  Please don’t plan, host or attend holiday gatherings for multiple households.  Instead connect virtually together.

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 7,077 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, 9% among African American/Black residents, less than 1% among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents and 1% among residents identifying with other races.

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.

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