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.
11 New Coronavirus Cases Confirmed In LA County, Bringing Our Total To 53
A sign posted up in a restroom reminding people to wash their hands. (Chava Sanchez/ LAist)
()
Eleven new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Los Angeles County, with the total number now at 53, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health. Patients in two of these new cases have been hospitalized.
"Unfortunately as we've been predicting, we continue to see a fairly rapid increase in the number of cases here in L.A. County," L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer told us today.
Ferrer said 10 of the total cases were likely due to community transmission.
Support for LAist comes from
One of the reasons there are more positives being reported is that more testing is being conducted. Over the last four days, commercial labs have tested 212 people in L.A. County, Public Health's lab has tested 118 people, and the CDC in Atlanta has tested 30 local cases. In one case, a young person infected a child, Ferrer said.
- In tests done by the county: About 27% of the cases were positive, in cases of people with serious illness
- Of the tests conducted by commercial labs, about 5% percent were positive
- 10% of those tested by the CDC were positive.
"We anticipate the number of folks who have had community exposure will again rise over the next few days, as we get more and more information about all of the cases," Ferrer said.
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
Four of the new cases had close contact with a confirmed case, two were exposed during recent travel, and the source was unidentified in two more cases. The other three cases are pending further investigation.
The department reiterated warnings to the public to use social distancing and good hygiene to slow the spread of the disease. She said:
"I would urge you to get on board. It's really clear that we have community transmission. I like to say, universal precautions at this point means everybody has a part to play, and everybody is doing social distancing."
Her department is investigating the most recent cases and will notify anyone who may have had close personal contact with these people. All confirmed cases are being isolated, with close contacts being quarantined, according to the department.
Support for LAist comes from
You should not call 911 to request testing for COVID-19, according to Ferrer. She added that you should not to go to the emergency room unless you are seriously ill and require emergency care. If you have a respiratory illness and want to know whether to be tested, the department advises you to call your health care provider or 2-1-1 to find a clinic near you.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:
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
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist