Pasadena Surpasses 10,000 COVID-19 Cases Since Start of Pandemic

Pasadena saw its 10,000th COVID-19 infection on Thursday.

Public health officials reported 56 new detected infections, pushing the city’s overall total to 10,044, city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.

Five additional deaths, all involving patients of long-term care facilities, raised the city’s death toll to 244, she said.

Additionally, Pasadena Public Health Department Epidemiologist Dr. Matthew Feaster said PPH has also investigated more than 400 “probable” cases of the virus, more than 350 worksites and over 100 individual outbreaks.

“When previously we were investigating a total of two to three thousand cases of all reportable diseases, we have surpassed that in spades. This is a feat that is unprecedented in our public health department’s long and venerable history,” he said.

“COVID-19 will have lasting effects, including generations lost. COVID-19 will end as a leading cause of death in Pasadena, possibly second to heart disease, or first,” Feaster said. The final statistics were not yet available, as additional death certificates from 2020 were still being received.

“We have lost around 240 Pasadenans to COVID to date, hitting our seniors the hardest. Around 87% of deaths were among people 65 years and older,” he said.

“COVID-19 will be added to the pantheon of pandemic pathogens the likes of 1918’s flu and HIV/AIDs, among others,” Feaster said. “This is a sobering reminder to continue to practice the 3 W’s, don’t go to a Superbowl party and vaccinate when it’s your turn.”

Huntington Hospital officials reported treating 141 COVID-19 patients on Thursday, with 30 of them being cared for in intensive care units.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported that 213 new fatalities on Thursday raised the county’s overall deaths to 16,107.

County officials also reported 6,592 new infections, bringing the total to 1,097,941, the L.A. County Department of Public Health said in a written statement.

“COVID-19 deaths reflect transmission that occurred weeks earlier,” according to the statement. “Because of the recent surge in cases and hospitalizations earlier this month, the county will likely continue to experience high numbers of deaths a day for some time.”

Just over 6,000 COVID-19 patients were being treated at L.A. County hospitals, authorities said.

Recent progress has been encouraging, but must continue in order to prevent unnecessary deaths, according to L.A. County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer.

“To continue to drive down transmission, we all must commit to taking the actions that work to slow COVID-19 spread. When more sectors reopen the risk of COVID-19 transmission increases, because people are interacting more with non-household members,” she said.

“In order to avoid re-openings resulting in increases in cases, businesses and individuals need to be more diligent, not less, in following public health measures,” Ferrer added. “We have a way to go before our hospitals are not stressed and fewer people die each day. Staying on a recovery journey is only possible if we all play by the rules.”

At the state level, the California Department of Public Health reported 16,696 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday, along with 737 fatalities.

It was the second-deadliest day of the pandemic in California, exceeded only by Jan. 21, when 764 deaths were announced, according to CDPH data.

Since March, California has recorded 3,186,610 cases of the virus and 38,961 fatalities.

The statewide seven-day average positivity rate was 7.5%, and the 14-day average declined to 8.5%, which was the lowest level seen since Dec. 6.

As of Thursday, L.A. County accounted for 34% of California’s total COVID-19 cases and 41% of the state’s deaths.

See also:

Huntington Hospital Doctor Calls on Locals to Stay the Course in Battle Against COVID-19