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.
COVID-19 Cases Top 210K In LA County; Nearly 5,000 Have Died
Los Angeles County's coronavirus task force delivered its daily update on the COVID-19 pandemic. Read highlights below or watch the full video above.
Los Angeles County officials reported 1,920 new confirmed cases of coronavirus today, bringing the total to at least 210,424 cases countywide.
In total, 8,775 cases have been reported in Long Beach and 2,112 in Pasadena (those two cities operate their own health departments).
Support for LAist comes from
County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer noted that the overall figure is an undercount due to the backlog of cases statewide. She also provided an update about where things stand with that backlog:
"The state did finish sort of processing all of the labs that were backlogged, but now those all have to come into our system and be processed by us. So we're working expeditiously to make sure that this is going to be accurate ... we hope that some time this week we'll be able to not only report out what our backlog looked like for L.A. County accurately, but also go back over the past couple of weeks and adjust all our numbers so they reflect better what the trend has been for the past two or three weeks."
So far, 92% of those who have died had underlying health conditions, Ferrer said.
WHAT THE LATEST NUMBERS SHOW
Ferrer said she and health officials are “cautiously optimistic” that the county’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 are working — a phrase she's employed often in previous briefings.
Daily hospitalizations decreased last week to less than 1,900 patients a day, she said, and deaths per day is currently at about 31, down from an average of 41 per day at the end of July.
(Courtesy L.A. County)
()
Support for LAist comes from
The number of daily confirmed cases has started to fall from the high of over 3,000 in mid-July to "slightly over 2,100" on Aug. 7, Ferrer said.
"We're hoping we're going to get back to a decline," she added, but noted that the backlog could lead to some adjustments in the data.
"We'll stay in the cautious space until we actually see our numbers for the past two weeks," Ferrer said.
(Courtesy L.A. County)
()
NEW RULES FOR YOUTH SPORTS
Ferrer also noted the new protocols for youth sports released last week to align with state guidelines.
Sports where physical distancing can’t be observed are prohibited, though athletes and coaches can still hold gatherings for “training, conditioning and skill building,” Ferrer said, provided physical distancing can be maintained.
Support for LAist comes from
Sharing personal items like water bottles and uniforms is prohibited, and shared equipment should be sanitized between usage, she said. County health officials also advise regular breaks to wash or sanitize hands.
“We're hopeful that as players and coaches adjust to the new modifications, everyone's going to be able to work as a team to keep each other safe,” Ferrer said.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS AND OUR NEW REALITY:
- Is It Safe Out There?
- What's Open And What Are The Rules?
- A Step-By-Step Guide To Getting The Most Money Possible From Your Unemployment Benefits In California
- Need Some Mental Health Support? Start Here
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.
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
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist