Public health officials reported 21 new coronavirus cases among Santa Monica residents over the last three days.
Four new cases were confirmed Saturday, three on Sunday and 14 on Monday, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The total number of residents with the virus increased 20% over the last week to 185 after rising 24% the week before. Since last Tuesday, the death toll has remained at nine, according to a county dashboard.
Additionally, 111 patients and staff in five Santa Monica nursing homes have tested positive and 12 have died.
The Rehabilitation Center of Santa Monica has reported 14 cases among staff and 29 among residents. Nine deaths have been confirmed at the facility.
At Beachwood Post-Acute & Rehab, 13 staff and 23 residents have tested positive. The facility has reported three deaths.
Ocean Pointe Healthcare Center has confirmed cases among six staff and 15 residents, and Brentwood Healthcare Center has seven staff and three residents with the virus. Brookdale Ocean House Assisted Living has reported one positive resident.
An earlier county investigation at The Manor, a residential facility for adults with developmental disabilities, has been closed.
Over the last week, coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County have increased 28%, and the total number of cases stands at 26,217, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Monday. More than 172,000 people have been tested, with 13% testing positive.
Nearly 3,000 healthcare workers and first responders have contracted coronavirus, an increase of about 1,000 since last week that Ferrer attributed to county-mandated testing at nursing homes. 4 in 10 workers with the virus are nursing home employees, and another 3 in 10 work at hospitals.
Across the county, 1,256 people have died from COVID-19, with 314 deaths — a quarter of all coronavirus deaths in L.A. County — occurring over the last week. Deaths at institutional settings, mostly nursing homes, now make up 49% of all COVID-19 deaths. Fifteen healthcare workers — 12 of whom worked at nursing homes or assisted living facilities — have died.
Ferrer said the number of people currently in the hospital has been down over the last few days. On Monday, 1,819 people were hospitalized. 30% were in the ICU and 17% were on ventilators.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said at a Monday news conference that some California retailers could reopen for pickup as early as Friday, including stores that sell books, toys, flowers, music or sports equipment. He said counties would be able to choose when they allow more businesses to reopen if they can demonstrate they have sufficient testing supplies, hospital beds and the ability to trace new cases.
Ferrer did not say Monday when the county would reopen, although she said the Department of Public Health was working on plans to reopen parks and beaches with enhanced physical distancing measures.
When businesses do reopen, they will have to adhere to strict protocols, she said.
"There is a lot at stake as we reopen," she said. "The virus has not changed ... it remains deadly. COVID-19 will still spread in our community for months to come."
madeleine@smdp.com
