Californians who celebrate Easter did so via video conference (or in some cases drive-up services) this weekend as social distancing guidelines continue to prevent large gatherings, even for religious observances.
On Sunday, L.A. County reported 323 new cases of COVID-19 and 31 new deaths, marking another rise in the mortality rate, which is now just over 3%, and the biggest one day total since the start of the outbreak. There have been at least 9,192 total confirmed cases here. Local authorities on Friday expanded stay home orders until May 15, saying they believe physical distancing has been working. And on Saturday, the United States passed Italy for the most confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the world. The U.S. is among a number of countries experiencing large-scale epidemics. Italy, Spain, Germany, and now France are all reporting more confirmed cases than China, where the outbreak began late last year, but whose reported numbers have since greatly slowed. In New York, the death toll from coronavirus topped 10,000, with hospitals still seeing 2,000 new patients a day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday. The state tallied 671 new deaths on Sunday. It was the first time in a week daily toll dipped below 700. Still, the governor noted people are still dying at a “horrific level of pain and grief and sorrow.”
Meanwhile, The Supreme Court said Monday it will hold arguments by teleconference in May in key cases, including President Donald Trump's bid to shield his tax and other financial records. The court will make live audio of the arguments available for the first time. It had previously postponed courtroom arguments for March and April because of the coronavirus.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll update the latest spread numbers locally, statewide and nationally from over Easter weekend, talk with our expert epidemiologist about what the U.S. might learn from the good and bad of China’s response to the outbreak and as always take your COVID-19 question at 866-893-5722.
Visit LAist for updated spread numbers, an interactive map, helpful links and more to keep you informed during the pandemic.
With files from LAist and the Associated Press
Guest:
Zuo-Feng Zhang, M.D., associate dean for research and professor of epidemiology at UCLA; he has also served as a consultant to the World Health Organization for national noncommunicable disease prevention and controls in China