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The total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections detected in Pasadena surpassed 13,000 on Wednesday.
Sixteen new cases of the virus raised the city’s pandemic total to 13,001, according to the Pasadena Public Health Department. Additionally, officials listed another 710 probably, but unconfirmed, cases.
One new death was reported, raising the total number of lives lost to the pandemic in Pasadena to 359.
The latest fatality was described as a man in his early-40s who was not vaccinated, city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.
The average number of daily infections detected over the prior week in Pasadena stood at 15.7, according to city data.
At Huntington Hospital, officials reported treating 23 COVID-19 patients on Wednesday,with eight of them requiring treatment in intensive care units.
Officials at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported 1,930 new infections and 37 additional fatalities on Wednesday, which brought the county’s pandemic totals to 1,437,073 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 25,748 deaths.
The number of patients being treated for the virus at county hospitals stood at 1,214, with 30% of them being housed in ICUs, according to a statement issued by the agency.
Wednesday’s county wide test positivity rate was recorded at 1.5%.
County officials announced plans to enact a new public health order on Friday that would require proof of full vaccination for both patrons and employees of bars, breweries, wineries, night clubs and lounges November 4.
The new regulations would also require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours for attendees of outdoor so-called “mega events,” described as gatherings involving more than 10,000 people. Proof of vaccination was already required by county policy for “mega events” taking place indoors.
The policy does not affect Pasadena, which has its own municipal public health department.
But Derderian said the Pasadena Public Health Department would be looking into whether it would be appropriate to take similar measures locally.
L.A. County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer said the policy was necessary to combat the spread of the virus.
“We in public health believe that targeted vaccination mandates are an important strategy for quickly raising vaccination coverage in our county and ending the pandemic, and we applaud our President, our Governor, our Board of Supervisors, our cities and school districts and business establishments across the county for creating additional safety in spaces where people are intermingling with the use of targeted vaccination mandates,” she said.
“As evidence mounts affirming the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, vaccination mandates are an increasingly important tool to prevent future COVID surges that cause widespread suffering,” Ferrer continued. “The modified Health Officer Order aligns with the continued need to reduce risk for transmission and increase vaccination coverage. This is a reasonable path forward that can position us to be better able to break the cycle of surges.”
At the state level, authorities reported 7,760 new cases of COVID-19 and 188 deaths on Wednesday, raising the totals to 4,380,566 infections and 67,001 fatalities.
The statewide average positivity rate over the prior week declined to 3.5%, down from 4.4% on Tuesday, according to California Department of Public Health data.
As of Wednesday, L.A. County represented 33% of California’s COVID-19 infections and 38% of the state’s deaths.
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