County Reports 25 COVID-19 Deaths on Sunday

The county health department confirmed 25 new deaths on Sunday and 1,379 new cases of the Coronavirus.

To date, Public Health has identified 54,996 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, and a total of 2,362 deaths.

“Through these difficult times, we mourn with all of you who have lost someone you love to COVID-19. We are deeply sorry for your loss, and wish you healing and peace,” said Barbara Ferrer, director of public health.

As of today, 6,514 people who tested positive for COVID-19 (12 percent of positive cases) have been hospitalized at some point during their illness. There are 1,402 people who are currently hospitalized, 28 percent of these people are in the ICU and 19 percent are on ventilators. Testing capacity continues to increase in LA County, with testing results available for over 598,000 individuals and 8 percent of people testing positive.

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Fifteen people who died were over the age of 65 years, 8 people who died were between the ages of 41 and 65 years old and one person who died was between the ages of 18 to 40. Twenty-two people had underlying health conditions including 14 people over the age of 65 years old, seven people between the ages of 41 to 65 years old and one person between the ages of 18 to 40.

Ninety-three percent of people who died had underlying health conditions. Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 2,179 people (99 percent of the cases reported by Public Health); 41% of deaths occurred among Latino/Latinx residents, 28% among White residents, 18% among Asian residents, 12% among African American residents, 1% among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents and 1% among residents identifying with other races. Upon further investigation, 34 cases and one death reported earlier were not LA County residents.

On Friday May 29, the county revised the Reopening Safer At Work And In the Community for the Control of COVID-19 (Order) to allow for in-person dining at restaurants and the re-opening of hair salons and barbershops. Public Health issued the County’s Protocols for Restaurants Opening for On-site Dining, which are available at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/protocols/Reopening_Restaurants.pdf.

Public health also issued Protocols for Hair Salons and Barbershops which are available at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/protocols/Reopening_HairSalons_Barbershops.pdf. The Health Officer Order specifically requires businesses to follow the COVID-19 infection control protocols. As such, restaurant and hair salon owners and operators must complete and implement these protocols prior to re-opening. Brewpubs, breweries, bars, pubs, craft distilleries, and wineries that do not offer sit-down, dine-in meals are still required to remain closed.

“If you are returning to work or are visiting re-opened spaces and businesses, please remember that the actions we all take today will affect the numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths several weeks from now,” Ferrer said. “This virus has not changed and is still easily transmitted among people in contact with each other. Please continue to take care of each other and use the tools we know work to slow the spread of the virus: wear a face covering and keep 6 feet of distance anytime you are around others not in your household.”

According to Ferrer, as the recovery journey continues, more people being around one another may result in more transmission of COVID-19, more cases, and more hospitalizations and deaths.

Ferrer called on county residents to continue following distancing and infection control directives and wear a clean cloth face covering that securely covers both your nose and mouth when in contact with other people not in your household. Public Health will assess the activities allowed by the Order on an ongoing basis.

LA County is in stage two of the five-stage Roadmap to Recovery and until the final stage five is reached, Health Officer Orders and directives will continue to ensure that we slow spread of COVID-19 to prevent an overwhelming surge of COVID-19 cases at healthcare facilities.