Los Angeles County officials reported 883 new confirmed cases of coronavirus today, bringing the total to at least 30,296 cases countywide. In total, 875 cases have been reported in Long Beach and 516 in Pasadena. (Those two cities operate their own health departments.)
L.A. County Public Health Director Ferrer also reported 51 new deaths of COVID-19 patients. The total number of deaths countywide now stands at 1,468 people.
Of the 51 people who’ve died in the past day, 39 were older than 65 and, of those victims, 36 had underlying health conditions, Ferrer said. Eight victims were between 41 and 65 and six of them had underlying health conditions. Two victims were between 18 and 40, and one had underlying health conditions.
So far, 92% of those who have died had underlying conditions, Ferrer said.
The death toll at institutional facilities in L.A. County — particularly at nursing homes — continues to climb. Ferrer reported that 713 residents at those facilities have died. That number represents 49% of all deaths countywide.
Ferrer also provided a racial breakdown of the confirmed deaths, based on information confirmed for 1,352 of the victims. According to the latest available information:
County health officials released a report this week showing a significantly higher mortality rate among minority communities in L.A. County. (We covered that report here.) Ferrer explained how the new data is informing health officials' response:
“The data are not only concerning, but they require all of us to work together and take quick action. Both reports identified strategies for closing the gaps, which included increasing access to testing, improving coordination of care and expanding access to appropriate communications. We've been working hand-in-hand with the city of L.A. and the Department of Health Services to actually expand the capacity for the county to have testing sites in the communities that are hardest hit by the pandemic.”
“... for many of the cases where this syndrome has been seen in different parts of the country, there has been a link to the following: either a child has tested positive for having antibodies to COVID-19 — that means at some point in the past they had the infection — or a child is currently positive for COVID-19 … We are today beginning a survey at all of our pediatric intensive care units to make sure that they haven't identified a similar syndrome … we're going to work with the entire country at better understanding these risks for children.”
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:
