Two More Pasadena Residents Die from COVID-19; Cases near 200

[Updated] City officials announced on Thursday that two more local residents infected with the Coronavirus have died, increasing the Pasadena death toll to 16 as local cases increased to 198.

“All decedents were between ages 49 and 93 years, were associated with long-term care facilities [residents or employees], and had underlying health conditions,” said City Spokesperson Lisa Derderian.

As the city’s case count closed in on 200 authorities in LA County once again recorded the deadliest day in that health department’s jurisdiction, reporting 55 new deaths.

The deadly came as state and city officials continue to lay out benchmarks to reopen and spur their respective economies. In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced that professional sports events and large gatherings may not return to the city until 2021.

Experts have warned that if cities lift their Safer at Home orders that deaths will spike in a second wave of the virus.

Meanwhile, a city health official told Pasadena Now that the department has expanded and continues to do its due diligence.

“The Pasadena Public Health Department has more than doubled our communicable disease operation in order to continue doing case investigation and contact tracing,” said Dr. Ying Ying Goh, the city’s health director. “We follow up on every laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19.”

The city’s outbreak is still centered in the city’s long-term health facilities. All of the deaths have come from those locations and have been either patients or employees.

Earlier this week, city officials reported that 11-of the-city’s-47 long-term care facilities have one or more patients infected the virus. That number has increased from nine.

The city released an order mandating regulations to stop the spread of the virus in those facilities.

The city will update cases next on Friday.

The new cases pushed the countywide total to 10,496.

Brighton Care Center, Californian Pasadena Convalescent Hospital, Camellia Gardens, Fair Oaks by Regency Park, Foothill Heights Care Center, Garfield Care Center, Golden Cross Healthcare, Huntington Post Acute (Pasadena Meadows). Jasmine Terrace, Legacy Care Center, Pasadena Grove Health Center, Rose Garden and St. Vincent’s all have at least one patient struggling with the virus.

The numbers come in hours after Los Angeles County reported its deadliest day since the pandemic began.

The number of coronavirus deaths in Los Angeles County officially topped 400, as 42 new deaths were reported on Wednesday and 500 new cases.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said that sports and large gatherings could be banned until 2021. It is not known if Pasadena will follow that model.