COVID-19 Hospitalizations Reach New Records in LA; increase in coronavirus cases due in part to July 4, authorities say

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – COVID-19 numbers are generally low on Mondays as test stats tend to lag over the weekend. Today that trend continued, with only nine deaths reported by COVID-19.

But when it comes to people landing in Los Angeles County hospital beds due to the virus, the numbers are breaking records.

“There are 2,232 confirmed cases who are currently hospitalized, and this is the largest number of hospitalized patients we have ever reported,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Ferrer says the county re-tests about 20,000 people each day.

But officials expect the infection rate to continue to rise as residents ignore health orders to physically distance themselves and wear masks. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said the recent July 4 vacation was partly to blame.

“The increase we have seen lately in COVID-19 cases is partly related to activities on July 4. It will take approximately 2-3 weeks between someone’s first exposure and testing for the virus,” said Barger.

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Ferrer says that tracing the origins of COVID-19 cases is very difficult due to that long incubation period.

But the county is still working on its contact search efforts, hoping that more people who have tested positive for coronavirus will participate in the confidential interviews.

Only 66% of those who tested positive have completed the contact follow-up interview. The county now offers $ 20 gift cards to encourage people to finish their interviews.