3 Additional COVID-19 Deaths Recorded in Pasadena as County Meets Benchmarks for ‘Orange’ Tier

Public health officials in Pasadena added three additional deaths and nine new infections to the city’s pandemic records on Tuesday, as officials urged anyone eligible for vaccination to get inoculated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.

One of the newly added deaths took place earlier this month and involved a resident of the community at large, city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.

The other two additional deaths took place in January, she said. One involved a resident of a long-term care facility, and the other was that of a community member.

Tuesday’s figures brought Pasadena’s overall totals to 11,093 documented COVID-19 infections and 334 deaths.

We're in a race against emerging COVID variants. Our best chance is to "get as many people vaccinated as soon as possible," says Dr. Kimberly Shriner, Huntington Hospital infectious disease specialist. #VaccinatePasadena pic.twitter.com/X14Yclazso

— City of Pasadena (@PasadenaGov) March 23, 2021

On average, 8.1 Pasadenans were infected each day over the prior week, according to city data.

Officials at Huntington Hospital reported treating 20 COVID-19 patients on Tuesday, with four of them being housed in an intensive care unit.

Meanwhile, Huntington Hospital infectious disease specialist Dr. Kimberly Shriner implored Pasadenans to get vaccinated as soon as the opportunity arises.

Mayor Gordo and Vice Mayor Wilson were all smiles behind those face masks after receiving their first dose of #COVID19vaccine today? #VaccinatePasadena pic.twitter.com/AtgJnVgLds

— City of Pasadena (@PasadenaGov) March 23, 2021

“I just really want to encourage everyone to continue to be enthusiastic about the vaccines. If you have access to any vaccine, whether it’s Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson, please get it. It’s imperative that we get as many people vaccinated as soon as possible. This will be our best chance against the variants, which are clearly circulating now in the United States and are of great concern.

A tweet from the city on Tuesday included photos of Mayor Victor Gordo and Councilman Andy Wilson receiving their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Health officials in Los Angeles County reported 490 new infections and 66 new deaths Tuesday as they announced the county had begun meeting the benchmarks necessary to transition into the next less-restrictive “orange” tier under the state Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

In total, the county had seen  1,215,129 known cases of novel coronavirus and 22,871 fatalities, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

“Today, the State released updated numbers; L.A. County’s adjusted case rate dropped from 4.1 new cases per 100,000 people to 3.7 new cases per 100,000 people. The test positivity rate dropped from 2.0% to 1.8%,” the agency said in a written statement. “If the County continues to maintain current levels or declines in the case rate and test positivity rate, it is possible in early April for the County to move into the orange tier. The County needs to remain in the red tier for three weeks prior to being assigned to the orange tier.”

County officials reported just over 700 COVID-19 patients hospitalized on Tuesday, with 25% of them being treated in ICUs.

“The number of daily hospitalizations has returned to pre-surge levels,” according to the county statement.

The California Department of Public Health reported 1,823 new infections and 51 fatalities, raising the statewide totals to 3,549,101 cases of COVID-19 and 65,596 deaths.

The state’s average positivity rate over the prior week stood at 1.7%, according to the CDPH.

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