Community Transmission of Coronavirus on the Rise in L.A. County, Pasadena Seeing More Work-Related Infections

As Los Angeles County continues pushing forward with gradual reopening plans, L.A. County Public Health Department officials expressed concerns Tuesday over increasing community transmission of coronavirus after seeing a significant increase in detected infections over the past week.

Pasadena saw 19 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and no new deaths, according to city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian. A total of 1,196 infections have been reported in the city, and 88 people have died from the virus.

Los Angeles County public health officials reported 2,364 new infections and 34 new deaths on Tuesday, bringing total cases in the county to 88,262. Total deaths reached 3,171.

It marked the third time since June 17 that more than 2,000 new infections were reported in L.A. County, according to the Public Health Department. Prior to the past week, newly reported cases have not topped 2,000 since May 30.

“The recent increase in daily cases and rates of positive test results indicates that there is more community spread of COVID-19 in LA County,” L.A. County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer said in a written statement. “It is as important as ever to use the tools we have to slow the spread of the virus. Please practice physical distancing and wear a cloth face covering. If you have been exposed and/or if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or waiting for results, please self-isolate and stay away from other people, even those who live in your household. These actions save lives.”

“To the family and friends of people who have passed away from COVID-19, we wish you healing and peace during this sad and difficult time,” Ferrer said.

County health officials said 1,515 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Tuesday, with 27% of them in intensive-care units and 18% being treated on ventilators.

Pasadena has also seen a larger number of new infections reported daily than in recent weeks.

Reports of new cases of COVID-19 have grown 16 and 25 each day since June 17, Pasadena Public Public Health Department data shows. But between June 8 and June 15, reports of new infections remained in single-digits.

Forty-eight COVID-19 patients were hospitalized at Huntington Hospital as of Tuesday, according to hospital data.

Officials did not see a link between church services or protests and new infections, “but we are identifying more work-related exposures,” Dederian said.

The novel coronavirus is known to hit the elderly and those with compromised immune systems the hardest. More than 75% of those who have died from coronavirus in L.a. County were over 65 years old, data shows.

But health officials in Pasadena have expressed concern after noticing a seeming uptick in infections among younger people.

Officials have found younger patients tend to be less likely to stay in communication with them following a positive test result than older patients.

“When a health representative calls, it’s important that you communicate and cooperate to help with contact tracing to identify those people who need to be told to isolate (or) quarantine and what symptoms to look for,” Derderian said.

“All it takes is one to bring the virus home to a larger household of older and/or a more vulnerable population,” she said.