Pasadena Sees Uptick in COVID-19 Deaths and Infections, While County’s Hospitalizations Near Peak Numbers

Four Pasadenans died from coronavirus-related causes on Tuesday and Wednesday, while confirmed cases of the virus grew by 35.

These represent higher numbers than in recent weeks, but nothing like the dramatic increase in Los County which motivated Governor Gavin Newsom to announce on Wednesday a raft of re-closures and new enforcement actions.

The number of coronavirus patients hospitalized in Los Angeles County has reached its highest point in months, nearing peak highs of about 1,900, as local health officials again issued urgent pleas for residents to avoid family or public gatherings over the Fourth of July weekend.

The county Department of Public Health reported that 1,889 people were hospitalized in the county as of Wednesday, noting that the figure does not include Long Beach and Pasadena, both of which have their own health agencies.

Huntington Hospital reported 55 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 early Thursday morning.

The county figure was an increase of about 100 from Tuesday, and continues an upward trend that began more than a week ago, when the number was hovering in the 1,300 range. Health officials warned earlier this week that if the trend continues, hospitals could run out of bed space in the next two to three weeks.

Dr. Christina Ghaly, the county’s health services director, said there is currently still adequate space in area hospitals, and none have yet been forced to “surge” their capacity above normal levels.

County health officials reported another 35 deaths due to the coronavirus, although four of those fatalities were reported Tuesday afternoon by Long Beach and Pasadena officials. The new deaths increased the countywide total to 3,402.

The county also confirmed another 2,002 cases, the fourth consecutive day that new cases have topped 2,000. Public health director Barbara Ferrer noted that the 2,002 figure was lower than reports in recent days because the county had not yet received results from one of the larger testing labs operating in the county.

The additional cases lifted the countywide total to 105,507.

Los Angeles County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer urged action.

“I know these closures are frustrating and it is heartbreaking to think we are losing ground. These immediate actions give us a chance to regain control over the increased spread. With steep increases in cases and hospitalizations, it is important to act now to prevent as many future cases, hospitalizations and deaths as we can.”

The state’s positivity rate reached 6% over the prior two-week period, Newsom said. Looking back over only the past seven days, the positivity rate was 6.4%.

In all, 1,341 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Pasadena, along with 93 deaths.