L.A. County MIS-C Cases in Children Plummet

5 New Deaths and 198 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 5 new deaths and 198 new cases of COVID-19.  Of the five new deaths reported today, two people that passed away were over the age of 80, two people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, and one person who died was between the ages of 50 and 64.

To date, Public Health identified 1,245,949 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,416 deaths. There are 240 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 18% of these people are in the ICU.  Testing results are available for nearly 6,900,000 individuals with 17% of people testing positive. Today’s daily test positivity rate is 0.5%.  Case numbers and other metrics continue to remain low.

Although very rare, COVID-19 cases among children can sometimes result a few weeks later in very serious illness known as Multi-symptom Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C).  As COVID-19 cases plummeted, so have MIS-C cases in children.  During the surge in December and January, there was a significant increase in children infected with COVID-19 which resulted in an increase weeks later of MIS-C cases. In January and February, there were over 100 MIS-C cases. During April and May there have been 8 MIS-C cases reported.

In total, over the course of the pandemic, Public Health has confirmed 200 cases of MIS-C and two child deaths from MIS-C in L.A. County. All 200 children with MIS-C in L.A. County were hospitalized and 36% of the children were treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). Of the children with MIS-C, nearly 3% were less than one year of age, 26% were between the ages of 1 and 4 years old, 28% were between the ages of 5 and 9 years old, 28% were between the ages of 10 and 14, and 15% were between the ages of 15 and 20 years old. Latino/Latinx children account for 73% of the reported cases.

“To everyone grieving the loss of a family member or a friend who has passed away from COVID-19, I send my deepest sympathies,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Protecting L.A. County’s residents remains a top priority as physical distancing requirements and capacity limits are lifted on June 15.  COVID-19 transmission that continues to occur among unvaccinated people is resulting in hospitalizations and deaths. While masks will not be required in many settings beginning June 15, face coverings remain an excellent means of protection for those not yet ready to get vaccinated. Fully vaccinated people are the most protected, so we ask everyone eligible to receive the vaccine and are not yet vaccinated, to consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can.”

Beginning today, Friday, June 11 to next Thursday, June 17 at County-run vaccination sites, participating LA city and mobile sites, and St. John’s Well Child and Family Center sites, everyone 18 and older coming to get their first vaccine or who brings a first-time vaccine recipient with them to their second dose appointment, will have an opportunity to win a pair of season tickets to the 2021-2022 home season of the Clippers, the Rams, or the Chargers.  Official rules and participating site locations are posted online on the Los Angeles County Vaccination Sweepstakes page.

Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated. Visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish) to find a vaccination site near you, to make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more. If you don’t have internet access, can’t use a computer, or you’re over 65, you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home-visit if you are homebound.  Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

County Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, Recovery Dashboard, and additional actions you can take to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

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