‘Gradual Increase’ in Coronavirus Transmission Continues Countywide

Health officials documented six new COVID-19 infections in Pasadena on Wednesday, as the city marked its 20th straight day without a fatality.

The new cases bring Pasadena’s total infections to 2,801, according to city data. The death toll remained at 129, with the last COVID-19-related death reported on Oct. 8.

Huntington Hospital reported treating 23 COVID-19 patients on Wednesday.

Los Angeles County public health officials announced 1,351 new infections and 20 additional deaths on Wednesday.

Since March, L.A. County has seen 303,369 cases of COVID-19, as well as 7,040 deaths, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

“Public Health is seeing a gradual increase in new daily cases,” the agency said in a written statement. “Cases have increased from an average of about 940 new cases per day at the beginning of the month to, as of last week, an average of almost 1,200 new cases per day.”

Officials noted the increase coincided with the reopening of several sectors of businesses, as well as gatherings linked to the recent Lakers and Dodgers championship victories.

“At many of these gatherings, people were together without distancing or wearing face coverings, often inside, and unfortunately, at times they were transmitting COVID-19 to other people,” according to the county statement.

Those who attended such gatherings were urged to get tested for the virus.

The average daily positivity rate in L.A. County had crept up to 3.4 percent, up from 3.1 percent a month ago, officials said.

At the peak of the pandemic in July, the county saw an average of 44 deaths per day, according to county public health officials. As of last week, the average had dropped to 13.

“This continued decrease in deaths is promising. At the same time, we know that an increase in cases can result in increased hospitalizations and deaths several weeks later,” according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health statement.

Officials reported 755 patients hospitalized in L.A. County with the novel coronavirus on Thursday, with 28 percent of them in intensive care units. Hospitalization rates have remained “fairly stable” through much of September and October, the statement said.

The California Department of Public Health reported 4,515 new infections and 75 additional fatalities on Wednesday.

The state had documented a total of 908,713 cases of the virus and 17,475 total deaths, the CDHP said in a written statement.

The average statewide positivity rate over the prior seven days was 3.3 percent, compared with a 3 percent average over the prior two weeks, officials said.

As of Wednesday, Los Angeles County represented 33 percent of California’s total COVID-19 infections and 40 percent of the state’s deaths.