LA County update: Another person dies from coronavirus, 71 new cases reported

A Culver City individual is the fifth person to die of novel coronavirus in Los Angeles County, the Department of Public Health reported Sunday. In addition, 71 new cases of coronavirus were reported, according to the department’s daily update.

Sunday’s increase was the largest single-day surge for the county since the outbreak began.

Over the last 48 hours, there have been 132 new cases in LA County.

To date, Public Health has identified 409 cases across all areas in LA County, including the five deaths. Upon completion of investigations, 12 cases reported earlier were not LA County residents. As of today, 84 positive cases have been hospitalized.

“We are deeply sorry for the passing of loved ones and send our prayers to the families and friends of those who have died from COVID-19,” Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County public health director, said in the media release.

“It is critical that everyone practices social distancing, obey the Safer at Home Health Officer Order and assume that anyone can have COVID-19, and anyone could unintentionally infect others, Ferrer wrote.”

Earlier, Ferrer amended her Health Officer Order to prohibit all gatherings and events, and clarify that golf courses and personal grooming services (including hair and nail salons) are non-essential services that are closed.

On Saturday, LA  public health officials reported two more people had died. Both were older than 65 and had underlying health conditions, a statement said. One lived in Miracle Mile and one lived in Del Rey.

The county’s Public Health Department sent a memo out to health care workers Thursday, March 19, that said the department “is shifting from a strategy of case containment to slowing disease transmission.”

In pursuit of that goal, the memo said, officials are now recommending health care workers only test patients for COVID-19 “when a diagnostic result will change clinical management or inform public health response.”

When the memo was distributed early Thursday, the number of reported cases countywide stood at 190.

Officials said in a Saturday statement the change in direction for testing came as the number of cases rose while there was still an “absence of broad scale testing availability.”

COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019, is caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms associated with the respiratory disease, which appear two-to-14 days after exposure, include fever, a cough and shortness of breath. While most people — including healthy young adults — will experience mild symptoms, the disease can be severe and possibly fatal for at-risk groups, such as the elderly and those with other health problems.

People with mild symptoms should not be tested for the virus, according to the Public Health Department.

Those who may be considered a priority for testing, “depending on clinical severity and community health.relevance,” the department said in its Saturday statement, include:

• Hospitalized patients whose diagnosis may inform decisions related to infection control or medical management
• Residents and staff of long-term care facilities with COVID-19 symptoms
• Adults above age 65 and individuals with chronic medical conditions who show COVID-19 symptoms
• Residents and staff of correctional facilities and other congregate settings with COVID-19 symptoms
• Healthcare personnel who show COVID-19 symptoms
• People who fall in those categories and are mildly ill, the department said, should contact their health care provider by phone to discuss the need for testing.

 

 

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