The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 47 new deaths and 474 new cases of confirmed COVID-19. The lower number of new cases, in part, reflect reduced testing due to wildfire smoke and recent extreme weather.
Public Health reminds residents that testing capacity across the County remains high and appointments are available. Testing is also widely available within the provider community.
If you have symptoms or think you were exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should get tested. You should also get tested if you were in a crowd or gathering where people were close together and not wearing face coverings and/or keeping their distance.
For more information about getting tested, visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing or call the County’s 2-1-1 information line. Those without a regular provider are encouraged to call 2-1-1 for assistance. Residents who have a regular source of healthcare can contact their healthcare provider if they need to be tested for COVID-19.
It is important to know if you are positive because you can transmit the virus without knowing you are infected. Younger people could unknowingly spread the disease to older and more vulnerable people with underlying health conditions who can suffer more severe illness. Ninety-two percent of the people who died from COVID-19 had underlying health conditions.
To date, Public Health has identified 255,049 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County, and a total of 6,273 deaths. Nearly 70% of all cases have occurred in people under the age of 50. Santa Monica has reported 834 cases.
Of the 47 new deaths reported today, 18 people that passed away were over the age of 80 years old, 17 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79 years old, seven people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64 years old, three people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49 years old, and one person who died was between the ages of 18 and 29 years old. Thirty-six people who died had underlying health conditions including 13 people over the age of 80, 13 people between the ages of 65 and 79 years old, seven people between the ages of 50 and 64 years old, two people between the ages of 30 and 49 years old, and one person between the ages of 18 and 29 years old. One death was reported by the City of Pasadena.
“So many are experiencing profound sorrow because they have lost a loved one or friend to COVID-19. I extend my deepest sympathies to each of you,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Tragically, we are reporting another death in person who was under 29 years old. Younger people not only are the majority of individuals infected and infecting others, but also can experience devastating consequences themselves. Nearly 450 COVID-19 deaths have occurred among individuals under the age of 50 years old. This is why it is important for everyone, including younger residents to take precautions every time they leave their homes and to get tested if they have been exposed to the virus.”
Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 5,899 people (99 percent of the cases reported by Public Health); 51% of deaths occurred among Latino/Latinx residents, 23% among White residents, 15% among Asian residents, 10% among African American/Black residents, less than 1% among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents and 1% among residents identifying with other races. Upon further investigation, 81 cases and five deaths reported earlier were not L.A. County residents.
Testing results are available for more than 2,465,000 individuals with 10% of all people testing positive. Currently, there are 772 confirmed cases currently hospitalized and 33% of these people are confirmed cases in the ICU. The downward trend in hospitalizations continues.
The Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, Recovery Dashboard, and additional things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.
