With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
9 New Coronavirus Deaths In LA County As Testing Ramps Up
Nine more people have died in Los Angeles County from complications related to COVID-19, an uptick that directly correlates to an increase in testing, according to public health officials.
That brings the total number of people who have died in L.A. County because of the coronavirus to 21, says county public health director Barbara Ferrer. That total has been corrected by dropping one juvenile case that is currently being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and another case where the individual was determined to be a resident of another county, Ferrer said.
Here are more of the county's updated numbers:
- 421 new cases were reported today, for a total of 559 in the last 48 hours
- The new cases include 41 in Long Beach and 9 in Pasadena
- 1,216 total confirmed cases have now been reported in L.A. County
- More than 9,400 people have been tested so far
- About 4,000 of those test results came in just yesterday
- That jump in testing largely explains the increase in positive cases
- About 10% of people tested are positive
Ferrer said they are not sharing any details on the deaths reported today because they are still working to notify families.
Support for LAist comes from
With the new numbers, the mortality rate is now at 1.6%, higher than the national average, Ferrer said. However, keep in mind that this number will fluctuate as more testing can be completed.
Ferrer also pointed out that 21% of positive cases have required hospitalization, and she warned that the impact on medical facilities could be severe if we do not adhere to social distancing guidelines and try to shut down the disease's spread:
"If there are 1,000 people that are positive, and each one of those people infects two other people, if we don't curtail that spread within a few weeks, there could be over a million people that would be infected in L.A. County. And if 20% of those people who are infected need some kind of hospital care, you can see why we're urging everyone to help us slow the spread. That could be over 200,000 people that at some point would need to be hospitalized."
- Your No-Panic Guide To Coronavirus In LA So Far
- Where To Get Financial Assistance, Food And Other Help
- Tracking The Spread Of COVID-19
- Have A Question? We Will Answer It
DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Get our daily newsletter for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines.
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Support for LAist comes from
Support our free, independent journalism today. Donate now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist