Pasadena Sees Most COVID-19 Cases in a Day Since July at 40

COVID-19 is making a surge in Pasadena and throughout Los Angeles County, with health agencies in both jurisdictions on Tuesday reporting the highest numbers of new infections detected in months.

Forty new infections were detected in Pasadena, representing the most cases in a single day reported in the city since mid-July, said city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian.

In total, 2,993 cases have been documented in the city.

No deaths have been reported since Oct. 8, according to city data. A total of 129 people have lost their lives to the virus in Pasadena.

Based on contact tracing, as well as the timing of infections, Halloween gatherings, traveling, and gathering with family members from other households without wearing masks appeared to be driving the new cases, Derderian said.

And with the holidays fast approaching, Derderian urged residents to take the virus seriously and not let their guards down.

“As tempting as it may be, we’ll do make-ups next year, hopefully, when the vaccine is plentiful,” she said.

Thirty COVID-19 patients were being treated at Huntington Hospital on Tuesday, according to hospital data.

With a recent announcement by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer that a prospective vaccine is showing promise, both Pasadena and L.A. County health officials urged the public to remain vigilant against the virus.

While recent word of promising work on a vaccine is welcome news, L.A. County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer said until a vaccine is available, social distancing and sanitation remain vital.

“It is promising to hear the news of COVID-19 vaccine possibilities in the near future. However, we cannot wait for a vaccine to slow the spread of COVID-19 in L.A. County,” she said.

“Every person needs to make personal decisions each day to use the tools we know work,” Ferrer said. “I ask that you encourage your family and friends to stay the course. The power to prevent more cases, hospitalizations, and deaths is within all of us.”

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported 2,318 new infections and 25 additional fatalities on Tuesday.

The county topped 2,100 cases on Friday for the first time since August.

In total, L.A. County health officials have documented 325,876 COVID-19 infections, according to an L.A. County Department of Public Health statement. The death toll had reached 7,200.

As recently as mid-September, L.A. County was seeing around 750 daily infections.

Officials reported 888 patients hospitalized with the virus countywide.

“A month ago in early-October, the daily number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 was between 650 and 725 patients,” according to the county statement.

“Throughout this pandemic when we have seen a surge in cases, it is followed by increases in hospitalizations and deaths,” the statement cautioned.

State officials reported 5,367 new COVID-19 cases and 24 new deaths on Tuesday, raising the statewide totals to 977,218 infections and 18,001 deaths.

Over the prior week, the state’s average positivity rate was 4.2 percent, with the 14-day rate measured at 3.7 percent, according to a California Department of Public Health statement.

As of Tuesday, L.A. County represented 33 percent of California’s total COVID-19 cases and 40 percent of the state’s fatalities.