The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed the first death from 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The individual (a non-resident visiting friends) was an older adult who traveled extensively over the past month, including a long layover in South Korea. Public Health is also reporting six additional positive cases, one of which we presume is our second case of community transmission.
Information about additional cases:
Three people are household contacts of a previously confirmed case of a County resident.
One person was an international traveler to France returned home ill.
One person traveled to a religious conference in another state was a close contact of a person at the conference who had tested positive.
One person with no known travel or close contact exposure.
The total number of cases in Los Angeles County is 27. These cases include three cases already reported by our partners in the city of Long Beach, which has an independent city health department. Pasadena has no reported cases at this time. These agencies will always be first to report their own positive cases, which Public Health will add to our total.
“Public Health extends our deepest condolences to the patient’s loved ones in the wake of this tragedy,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Los Angeles County Public Health Director. “We strongly recommend that all Los Angeles County residents, workers, students, and visitors take the necessary precautions to protect themselves against novel coronavirus. Public Health will continue working with local, state, federal, and community partners in order to prevent future cases and to educate those in Los Angeles County about how to avoid contracting COVID-19.”
Submitted by County of Los Angeles Public Health
