L.A. County Surpasses 9,000 COVID-19 Deaths as Hospitalization Surge Continues

88 New Deaths and 12,954 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has tragically surpassed 9,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths. L.A. County has experience more than 1,000 COVID-19 deaths in just two weeks; on December 8 the County reported 8,000 deaths. This is an average of nearly 73 COVID-19 deaths per day over the past two weeks.

To date, Public Health identified 647,542 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 9,016 deaths.  Today, Public Health has confirmed 88 new deaths and 12,954 new cases of COVID-19.

There are 5,866 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 20% of these people are in the ICU.  The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 today is again a new high. Today’s daily hospitalization count has increased more than 2,700 daily patients from two weeks ago, when the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 was 3,113.

Testing results are available for more than 4,425,000 individuals with 14% of people testing positive.

The University of Southern California’s Center for Social and Economic Research continues to conduct a weekly representative survey with L.A. County residents about their actions through the pandemic. As cases continue to surge, nearly 80% of survey respondents indicated they visited a grocery store or pharmacy in the past week.  Thirty percent of survey respondents indicated they visited a friend, neighbor or relative, and 30% of the respondents indicated they had visitors at their residence.

If the survey is representative of L.A. County residents, more than 3,000,000 residents are not following the safety guidance that directs us to not gather with people outside our immediate household. Being in close physical distance with non-household members, especially when unmasked and not distanced, increases risk and contributes to easy spread of the virus. Many people infected with COVID-19, are asymptomatic and unknowingly spread the disease to others, including to those who have underlying health conditions with increased risk for serious illness and death.

Of the 88 new deaths reported today, 31 people that passed away were over the age of 80 years old, 31 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79 years old, 17 people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64 years old and five people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49 years old. Sixty-one people who died had underlying health conditions including 20 people over the age of 80 years old, 24 people between the ages of 65 and 79 years old, 14 people between the ages of 50 and 64 years old and three people between the ages of 30 and 49 years old. Four deaths were reported by the City of Long Beach.

“To the families that are grieving the loss of a loved one to COVID-19, we send you our deepest sympathies and keep you in our thoughts every day,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Unfortunately, today marks another tragic milestone as we acknowledge and grieve the more than 9,000 residents that have passed away from COVID-19.  Our actions have an impact on the health and well-being of many people in our county, and not following the public health rules has deadly consequences. The virus has spread across the entire county and everyone, employers and residents, need to be extra vigilant in their precautions to protect themselves and others. This is not the time to crowd at stores, to attend parties and gatherings, or to travel.  If every person can find it in themselves to celebrate the meaning of the holidays by protecting each other from the virus, we have a chance to stop the surge.”

Compliance with public health safety measures is essential to preserve our healthcare system and save lives. Because COVID-19 spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets, face coverings combined with frequent hand-washing and physical distancing provide the best protection if you need to leave your home. Individuals with underlying health conditions and those that are older should remain in their home and not be around others unless seeking essential health and dental care. If you are having difficulty breathing, go to an emergency room or call 911.  If you are positive for COVID-19 and need help figuring out how to best stay away from others for the 10 days, please answer our call when Public Health contacts you, or call us at 833-540-0473.

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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