Eleven Santa Monica residents have died from COVID-19, with two deaths reported this week.
As of Thursday, 16 people in Santa Monica nursing homes had also died from COVID-19, but it is unknown how many permanently resided in the city and are therefore included in its official death toll. Ten people have died at the Rehabilitation Center of Santa Monica, three died at Beachwood Post-Acute & Rehab and three died at Ocean Pointe Healthcare Center.
Across Los Angeles County, 49% of the 1,468 people who have died from COVID-19 resided in nursing homes.
At about 9 per 100,000 people, Santa Monica's death rate adjusted for age distribution is the highest of any Westside city. Malibu's adjusted death rate is 4.5, Culver City's is 5.5, Beverly Hill's is 6.5 and West Hollywood's is about 7.
Throughout Los Angeles County, death rates vary significantly based on race and income.
Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are dying from COVID-19 at a rate of 89 per 100,000 people. The death rate for African Americans is 18 and the rate for Latinos is 15.5. Asians and whites have death rates of 12 and 9, respectively.
Communities with high levels of poverty have a death rate of 29, four times that of affluent communities, said L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.
Ferrer said the county is conducting another antibody test to see what proportion of county residents have had COVID-19 and will focus more on testing communities of color than in the first antibody test. She said the county is also deepening its partnerships with healthcare providers and putting out targeted public service announcements in African American communities.
"We cannot continue to allow inequities in health outcomes," Ferrer said.
Public health officials confirmed on Friday 206 cases of coronavirus among Santa Monica residents, a nearly 26% increase over last Friday. Cases increased about 12% the week before.
There are 87 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among residents and 44 among staff at five nursing homes in Santa Monica, including the Rehabilitation Center, Beachwood and Ocean Pointe. Brentwood Health Care Center and Brookdale Ocean Housing Assisted Living have smaller outbreaks.
The total number of confirmed cases in L.A. County also rose by a quarter over the last week to more than 30,000.
Nearly 215,000 people have been tested and 12% have tested positive.
After announcing April 24 that the county would require nursing homes to test both symptomatic and asymptomatic residents and staff, Ferrer said Friday that 95 nursing homes have completed exhaustive testing. The county will continue to help facilitate testing, prioritizing nursing homes with outbreaks.
There are now 223 confirmed cases among homeless individuals, 135 of whom were sheltered when they contracted the virus. The county is conducting investigations at 23 shelters, Ferrer said.
She said the number of people in the hospital for COVID-19 has remained steady for the last week and a half at nearly 1,800.
As coronavirus continues to spread throughout the county, officials are allowing some retailers to open Friday for curbside pickup. Trails and golf courses will also reopen and visitors must practice physical distancing and wear face coverings.
The county may allow beaches and other types of retailers, manufacturers and recreational facilities to reopen with limitations next week.
The city of Santa Monica on Friday issued several additions to its emergency order that prohibit landlords from collecting interest on unpaid rent, temporarily suspends the city's plastic bag ban and limits loud construction activity to 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays while stay-at-home orders are in place.
madeleine@smdp.com
