198 COVID-19 Patients in Huntington Hospital as of Tuesday, a Grim New Record

Two new fatalities were added to Pasadena’s COVID-19 death toll Tuesday, as county officials reported the highest-ever numbers of deaths and hospitalizations.

With 101 new cases of the virus detected, Pasadena has seen a total of 156 fatalities and 6,530 cases of COVID-19, according to city data.

One of the newly reported deaths was that of a man in his 80s who died on Dec. 25, city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said. The man lived in the general community.

A woman in her 80s died on Dec. 26, Derderian said. She was a resident of a senior care facility.

Huntington Hospital again reported a new record number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at 198, with 32 of them being treated in intensive care units. Over the prior week, the facility admitted an average of 26 COVID-19 patients each day.

The state-calculated ICU availability rate for the 11-county Southern California region encompassing L.A. County remained at 0%, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday afternoon that the regional stay-at-home order currently in effect for L.A. County and its neighbors was extended, as the projections for the next four weeks indicated ICU demand would continue to exceed available capacity.

Health Services Los Angeles County reported 716 available hospital beds in the county and 55 available ICU beds.

At the county level, L.A. County Department of Public Health officials announced its largest-ever single-day numbers of both deaths and hospitalizations, but said the high number of deaths was partly due to recent data backlogs.

A record 227 COVID-19 deaths were reported across the county on Tuesday, along with 12,979 infections, the agency said in a written statement.

Since the start of the pandemic, the county has recorded a total of 746,089 cases of the virus and 9,782 deaths.

Just over 7,180 patients were hospitalized with novel coronavirus across L.A. County, with 20% of them, or more than 1,430 people, being treated in intensive care units. Tuesday marked the first time L.A. County marked over 7,000 hospitalizations.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to everyone who has lost a family member or friend to COVID-19,” L.A. County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer said.

“Suffering followed by more suffering continues as too many residents and businesses behave as if we are not living in the most dangerous time of the most devastating pandemic,” she said. “Our health care workers are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients and this current path of surging COVID-19 hospitalizations is not sustainable.”

“Even if you believe your life isn’t at risk, actions that defy public health guidance certainly put other lives in danger,” according to Ferrer. “We are each other’s keepers. Instead of hosting or attending a party this New Year’s Eve, choose to stay home and celebrate with only your household or to connect virtually with other family members and friends. Make ending this deadly surge part of your New Year’s resolution.”

The county’s overall positivity rate stood at 15%.

State health officials reported 31,245 new infections and 242 additional deaths on Tuesday, raising the statewide totals to 2,187,221 cases of COVID-19 and 24,525 deaths.

Over the prior 14 days, the state’s average positivity rate had reached 12.6%.

As of Tuesday, L.A. County represented 34% of California’s COVID-19 infections and 40% of the state’s fatalities.

See also:

Southern California Stay-at-Home Order Extended As COVID Cases Flood Hospitals