Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA County Marks 'A New Chapter' Of COVID-19 Response As Cases And Hospitalizations Surge
Watch Los Angeles County's coronavirus task force update on the COVID-19 pandemic above.
Los Angeles County officials reported 1,584 new confirmed cases of coronavirus today, bringing the total to at least 116,570 cases countywide. In total, 4,379 cases have been reported in Long Beach and 1,401 in Pasadena (those two cities operate their own health departments).
County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer also reported 48 new deaths of COVID-19 patients. The total number of deaths countywide now stands at 3,534 people.
So far, 93% of those who have died had underlying health conditions, Ferrer said. She also noted that a lag in death and case reporting typically leads to smaller counts on Mondays.
Today’s reporting follows numbers released yesterday showing a new record for the most new COVID-19 cases in a single day last Friday: 3,187.
Ferrer said L.A. County is in "a new chapter of our response," adding:
"... unfortunately, where we are today is different than where we were two three or four weeks ago. Cases are surging, hospitalizations are increasing and, mostly, this is all a reflection of a lot more community spread."
Younger people, those in the 18-40 age range (represented in the green line in the chart below) account for nearly half of all new cases, according to public health data.

And younger people are infecting others with the virus. The hospitalization rates among people ages 18-40 and 41-65 have both increased in recent weeks.
Ferrer said the evidence is clear: many people, including many younger people, are no longer following the health guidelines that helped flatten the curve in L.A. County.
"The sooner we can all recommit to taking care of each other, the sooner we get back to creating a new normal, where we go back to work, to school, we see our friends and our extended families," Ferrer said.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?