Potential restrictions are being considered amid a “dangerous” surge in Los Angeles County coronavirus cases, with the seven-day case average nearly doubling in the past weeks.
On Monday, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, urged residents to follow COVID-19 prevention guidelines, as cases continue to rise, in efforts to not reintroduce “Safer at Home” health order closures and curfews.
“It is clear that L.A. County is in a very dangerous point in the pandemic,” said Ferrer, later adding public health has to have a “hard look at restrictions” if the current surge is now slowed.
Ferrer recommended the public to “rethink” their holiday plans, and cancel travel if possible. Those traveling outside the state are urged to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival back to California.
The public health director further encouraged residents and businesses alike to continuing to follow face-covering guidelines.
On Saturday, Public Health reported the highest number of positive cases in one day, not associated with a backlog, since mid-July.
Residents ages 18-29 make up the majority of new COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County, but elderly residents account for the most hospitalizations, according to Ferrer.
“Young people are spreading the virus with disastrous results for our elderly community,” Ferrer said.
Governor Gavin Newsom pulled the “emergency brake” on California Monday, with the Golden State as a whole seeing the same surge as L.A. County.
“We are sounding the alarm,” said Newsom in a statement. “California is experiencing the fastest increase in cases we have seen yet –faster than what we experienced at the outset of the pandemic or even this summer. The spread of COVID-19, if left unchecked, could quickly overwhelm our health care system and lead to catastrophic outcomes.”
Newsom pushed back restrictions on 40 counties across the state, with an overwhelming majority of California residents now in the most restrictive “purple” Tier 1.
Since the state rolled out the “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” in August, Los Angeles County has remained in the highest restriction tier, with no change expected in the immediate future.
The adjusted COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 people in L.A. County nearly doubled this week from 7.6 to 13.7 new cases per day, according to Ferrer.
In order to move down to Tier 2, Los Angles County must maintain a seven-day average of fewer than seven cases per 100,000.
2,795 new cases have been confirmed across Los Angeles County on Monday, along with 88 new cases in and around the Santa Clarita Valley, according to public health.
The countywide total now stands at 342,343 as of Monday, according to the department.
Six additional deaths were reported Monday, bringing the cumulative total in L.A. County to 7,275 deaths, according to public health.
Over 3,386,000 coronavirus tests have been conducted as of Sunday, with about 9 percent of those tests returning positive.
There are 1,014 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Sunday, the highest it has been in nearly two months, officials said.
As of Monday, a total of 8,179 cumulative cases of COVID-19 since testing began in March. These include:
- 5,194 in the City of Santa Clarita* (+60)
- 192 in the unincorporated areas of Canyon Country (+1)
- 2,269 in Castaic* (+13)
- 44 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus (+1)
- 247 in Stevenson Ranch (+10)
- 57 in the unincorporated areas of Valencia (+1)
- 112 in the unincorporated areas of Val Verde (+2)
- 30 in the unincorporated areas of Newhall
- 12 in the unincorporated areas of Bouquet Canyon
- 12 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus/Canyon Country
- Seven in unincorporated Sand Canyon
- Three in unincorporated San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon
Additionally, 99 cumulative cases were confirmed in nearby Acton as well as 54 in Agua Dulce.
*As of Sunday, Nov. 15 officials have recorded 1,895 cumulative cases have been reported at the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center, including 1,373 at the North County Correctional Facility. Those cases are distributed between both the City of Santa Clarita and Castaic totals.
An analysis of available data indicates that as of Sunday, Nov. 15, approximately 23.4 percent of all cumulative cases in and around the Santa Clarita Valley can be attributed to the inmate population at the North County Correctional Facility and the Pitchess Detention Center.
As of Wednesday, Nov. 11, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital has conducted 10,964 COVID-19 tests. Of those, 1,122 have tested positive, and four tests are still pending with Henry Mayo, according to Patrick Moody, spokesperson for the hospital.
There are 16 patients in the hospital as of Wednesday, Nov. 11 while 328 patients have been discharged since the hospital’s first case was reported in March, according to Moody.
Two additional heaths have been reported at Henry Mayo Wednesday bringing the total to 35 coronavirus deaths at the hospital. At least 78 COVID-19 deaths have been reported across the Santa Clarita Valley.
See All Coronavirus Coverage: Coronavirus Coverage – COVID-19 Map
Ed. Note: These numbers are subject to change based on further investigation by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
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