Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

News

Morning Briefing: A ‘Horrifying Surge’

A sign guides drivers to the entrance of a drive through COVID-19 test site in Crenshaw. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
()

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.

Good morning, L.A.

On the heels of Tuesday’s record-setting 7,593 new cases of coronavirus in L.A. County, another 5,987 new positive tests were announced yesterday.

The county’s director of public health, Barbara Ferrer – whose home drew protesters over the weekend to oppose the new stay-at-home order – peppered yesterday’s briefing with adjectives intended to drive home the seriousness of the current situation. She talked about the “alarming” numbers of COVID-19 cases, the “terrifying” increases and the “horrifying” surge.

The numbers to which she’s referring are indeed staggering. L.A. County saw its daily case average rise from 1,223 to 3,976 between Nov. 1-22. Over the past week and a half, it skyrocketed to over 5,300.

Support for LAist comes from

Along with other officials, Ferrer is concerned that hospitals will reach their maximum capacity, leaving healthcare workers and people who have tested positive at risk. Explaining that “maximum capacity” isn’t fixed, but rather varies based on staffing capability, patient numbers and more, Dr. Christina Ghaly, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, added that current modeling indicates “we will have a shortage of ICU beds over the next four weeks.”

“We all have to do our part to limit spread so that we don't end up in the situation that is projected in some of those models,” she said, “a situation that could be dangerous for patients and for staff alike.”

Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.

Jessica P. Ogilvie


Coming Up Today, December 3

Help Dolly Parton ring in the holidays, chow down on a Foo Fighters taco, create art alongside Kid Koala, and more. Christine N. Ziemba has this week’s best online and IRL events.

Support for LAist comes from

Never miss an LAist story. Sign up for our daily newsletters.


The Past 24 Hours In LA

Coronavirus Updates: Los Angeles County officials reported 5,987 new confirmed cases of coronavirus yesterday, bringing the total to at least 414,185 cases to date countywide. The county will begin mailing COVID-19 test kits to people who have mobility issues, be they disabled or elderly.

Outdoor Dining Controversy: Officials with several Los Angeles County cities, including Beverly Hills, Lancaster, West Covina and Whittier are so mad about the current outdoor dining ban that they're thinking of launching their own health departments. The county’s Department of Public Health must provide evidence about COVID-19 transmission that would justify its ban on outdoor dining.

Immigration: An updated U.S. citizenship test with harder questions took effect this week.

Wildfire Season: The National Weather Service is saying conditions are "particularly dangerous" for a wind-driven fire right now, with strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity. In anticipation of potential fast-moving blazes, the Los Angeles County Fire Department is sending out strike teams to problem areas so that they can respond quickly to any fire.

Support for LAist comes from

Final Good-Byes: Olympic gold medalist Rafer Johnson, who helped bring the 1984 Summer Games to Los Angeles – and helped to apprehend the assassin who shot Robert F. Kennedy – has died at age 86.

Food And Films: Ghost kitchens live and die by delivery, and they’re on a roll during the pandemic. The Sundance Film Festival will be almost completely virtual, with “Satellite Screens” at drive-ins and independent theaters across the country, including L.A.


Photo of the Day

A fried chicken sandwich from Luther Bob's, which operates out of a ghost kitchen.

(Chava Sanchez/LAist)
()

Support for LAist comes from

Help Us Cover Your Community

  • Got something you’ve always wanted to know about Southern California and the people who call it home? Is there an issue you want us to cover? Ask us anything.
  • Have a tip about news on which we should dig deeper? Let us know.

The news cycle moves fast. Some stories don't pan out. Others get added. Consider this today's first draft, and check LAist.com for updates on these stories and more. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.


icon

DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Get our daily newsletters for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines.


Terms of Use and Privacy Policy


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.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist