LA County Cases Surpass 7,900; 25 More Deaths

As the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to hit Los Angeles County, pulic health officials shared that there have been 25 additional deaths and 425 additional people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the area.

In the last 48 hours, the county has reported 1,045 new cases, bringing the total so far to 7,955. Barbara Ferrer, the L.A. County Public Health director, stated that her office has confirmed 20 new cases among the homeless and the death of a staff member at a homeless shelter.

Here the additional latest numbers:

• 223 total deaths
• 2.8% increase of the mortality death
• The total number of confirmed cases in institutional settings has risen to 716
• In institutional settings, 343 people with COVID-19 are residents and 373 are staff
• 51 residents who live in institutional settings have died
• 155 institutional settings reported cases:
• 47 cases in jail facilities (six inmates and 41 staff)
• 11 cases in state prisons (8 inmates and 3 staff)
• 2 in juvenile facilities (both staff)
• As of April 8, over 38,300 people have been tested in L.A.County
• 287 people have tested positive in Long Beach, and 94 people have tested positive in Pasadena

Ferrer stated that the country does not declare an outbreak in an institutional setting unless it consists of 3 or more cases, but as we continue on she said we will have outbreak situations at almost all such settings.

Data on the race and ethnicity of those who are hospitalized and dying is not complete, but officials are working on a report with that information which will be issued every week.

Ferrer stressed as well that as long as the stay at home order is in place and people wait for their test results, you should not wait for a confirmation that you’re positive to begin self isolation. From the time you’re tested, as you await results, isolate yourself completely from everyone, including in your household, because it takes 14 days for the virus to incubate.