Pasadena Reports 132 New COVID-19 Infections; Braces for More in Anticipation of Holiday Fallout

Public health officials reported 132 new COVID-19 infections in Pasadena on Monday and warned that difficult days are likely still ahead as the effects of cascading viral surges are seen in area testing centers, hospitals and morgues.

With no additional fatalities reported in the city, Pasadena’s death toll remained at 154. A total of 6,429 cases of COVID-19 have been detected since the start of the pandemic, according to city data.

“Our numbers continue to skyrocket and we continue to see one surge on top of another,” city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said. [We] fear what the upcoming weeks will bring because of those who have gathered for the holidays and New Year’s Eve.”

“The good news is that we continue to roll out the vaccine to our firefighters and senior care facilities,” Derderian said.

Huntington Hospital reported treating 187 COVID-19 patients on Monday, including 29 who were being treated in intensive care units.

With the Southern California region’s state-calculated intensive care unit availability remaining at 0%, Gov. Gavin Newsom said it was “likely” that the regional stay-at-home order affecting the area would be extended on Tuesday.

At the county level, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced 13,661 new infections and 73 additional fatalities on Monday.

In total, county officials have recorded 733,325 COVID-19 infections and 9,555 deaths.

“L.A. County consistently exceeds 13,000 cases a day with some days exceeding 15,000 cases,” the L.A. County Department of Public Health said in a written statement. “When the current surge began 58 days ago, the average number of cases on November 1 was about 1,200 cases a day.

“Based on recent trends, a high number of COVID-19 cases will result in increased hospitalizations and, ultimately and tragically, to increases in deaths,” the statement said.

More than 6,900 COVID-19 patients crowded hospitals throughout the county, with 20% of them being treated in ICUs, county officials said.

“Average daily deaths have increased by 600%, from 12 average deaths per day in early-November to 84 average deaths per day in mid-December,” the statement said.

Anyone who travels outside of the county was urged to self-isolate for at least 10 days until they can be sure that they are not carrying the virus.

“The virus can take up to 14 days to incubate, and for many people the virus causes no illness or symptoms,” according to the county statement. “If you go back to work, go shopping or go to any gatherings at any point over the next 10 days, you could easily pass on the virus to others. “

“If you start to experience any symptoms or have a positive test, isolate for 10 days and until you are fever-free for 24 hours,” the statement continued. “The best way to safely quarantine is to not leave your home or allow any visitors to your home, and to find others who can help you buy groceries and other essential necessities.”

The California Department of Public Health reported 33,170 new detected infections and 64 deaths on Monday, raising the statewide totals to 2,155,976 cases of COVID-19 and 24,284 deaths.

The state’s average positivity rate over the prior two weeks stood at 12.5%, according to the CDPH.

As of Monday, L.A. County accounted for 34% of California’s COVID-19 infections and 39% of the state’s deaths.