Public Health Reports 5 New Deaths and 798 New Positive Cases of Confirmed COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed five new deaths and 798 new cases of COVID-19. The 7-day average of new cases is 1,143, which has declined steadily over the past month. The low death and case counts today likely reflect a reporting lag due to the holiday weekend. This brings the cumulative number of positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County to 248,334, and a total of 6,005 deaths.

Meanwhile, five new cases were reported in Pasadena, bringing the case count to 2,439.

According to health officials, after the Memorial Day and July Fourth holidays, the county saw a spike in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. One factor contributing to the spike was people gathering with others that were not part of their household at crowded barbecues and parties. 

County Public Health urges everyone to take extra measures to protect each other as in celebrating Labor Day. If people have 10 guests over to their homes to celebrate the holiday, they are adding a risk that any guest could introduce the COVID-19 virus into the household. Or if a person or one of their household members has an asymptomatic infection, the virus may be passed along to any or all of the 10 guests. The smaller the number of people who interact with other people, the less community transmission occurs.  

Public Health continues tracking the number of positive cases and deaths among health care workers (HCW) related to the COVID-19 pandemic response. There have been a total of 87 deaths and a total of 14,448 positive cases among health care workers and first responders in Los Angeles County. Nurses continue to account for the majority of cases (37 percent) and deaths (41 percent) among health care workers. One-third (33 percent) of health care workers who tested positive for the virus worked at skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, and 26 percent of health care workers who tested positive worked at hospitals.

“Our hearts are with all who have lost their loved ones to COVID-19, and may peace and comfort find each of you during these difficult times,” said Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County director of Public Health. “Our thoughts are also with all the families and friends of health care workers, who worry each day about the risks their loved ones face as they care for our sick and disabled residents. Nearly 250,000 residents in our county have been infected with COVID-19, and thousands have required hospitalization. Thousands of additional residents have sought care at clinics and doctors’ offices, and thousands more are residents in nursing and assisted living facilities. Everyone needing care has been served by dedicated and skilled teams of front-line health care workers who are at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 than most everyone else. This Labor Day holiday serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to make sure that all health care workers have appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), training, and access to quality health care. It should also prompt us to double-down on all efforts to reduce community transmission. This is the best way we can ensure that essential health care workers are at less risk.”