Los Angeles County confirmed on Monday 22 additional coronavirus-related deaths and 2,903 new coronavirus cases, the highest number of new infections in a single day the county has reported since the pandemic hit the U.S.
The daily count brings the total number of coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County to more than 100,000.
The alarming increase in cases is not just related to the increase in evidence, said director of public health Barbara Ferrer. The increase is proof that community transmission has “definitely” increased as the positive infection rate approaches 9%. Authorities are now warning that one in every 140 residents is unknowingly infected with the virus, a large increase from last week’s projection of one in 400.
Additionally, health officials revealed that more than 500,000 people visited recently reopened nightlife venues in Los Angeles County on June 20 when the county gave the go-ahead for bars, breweries, wineries and similar businesses to reopen.
Authorities said 49% of bars and 33% of restaurants in the county did not adhere to social distancing protocols last week. In addition, inspectors found that workers in 54% of bars and 44% of restaurants did not wear face masks or shields.
“There are several companies and individuals who have not followed the directives, and have come back to live as COVID-19 is not living in our community,” said Ferrer. “If you are not part of the solution to stop the spread, you end up being part of the problem.”
The news follows the state’s order that seven counties, including Los Angeles, must close their bars, while eight others were encouraged to follow suit.
Statewide, infections have increased 45% in the past 14 days and hospitalizations have increased 43%.
Authorities have previously said that the increase in COVID-19 infections is “highly likely” as a result of the mass gathering of people in protests over the death of George Floyd, in addition to groups that have gathered in restaurants and in private meetings.
But because contact trackers don’t track the start of spread in public spaces, it’s often impossible to know the source of the transmission. Still, Governor Gavin Newsom said Monday that the increase in cases is largely caused “by people mixing and otherwise not mixing in the past,” before the state allowed the reopening of business. selected.
And the spike is happening across the state. Orange County confirmed 56 coronavirus-related deaths last week, the highest weekly death toll the county has reported since the pandemic hit the U.S.
According to the California Department of Public Health, which collects information from different monitoring methods for each county, the largest increase in cases and deaths occurred Wednesday, when 733 new cases and 24 deaths were reported.
With the increase in deaths and cases, Newsom announced Monday that Orange County, which has the third-highest number of cases in the state, was added to the list of 19 counties that the state is monitoring for increases in infection numbers or hospitalization rates.
While Orange County continues to move forward with its expanded reopening, other parts of California are declining.
The state on Sunday ordered the closure of bars in seven counties on its watch list: Los Angeles, Fresno, Kern, San Joaquin, Tulare, Kings and Imperial, and encouraged the same from eight others including Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Sacramento. , Riverside, Ventura, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Stanislaus.
Contra Costa county officials announced Monday that they will further delay reopening as COVID-19 cases increased after 2,800 infections.
Previously, the county had cleaned up bars, personal services not involving close face contact, indoor dining, gyms, gyms, limited indoor leisure activities, museums and hotels for tourism, and individual travel to reopen July 1.
“With the sharp increase in community spread and hospitalizations, there is no point at this point in opening additional business sectors that could further accelerate community transmission,” officials said.
“These businesses and activities will remain closed in Contra Costa until county data indicates that the spread of the virus has slowed, as measured by at least a week of stable cases, hospitalizations, and the percentage of tests that are positive,” added the county in a statement on its public health website. “
The seven-day average number of COVID-19 patients in county hospitals increased by 75% from June 15 to 29. The number of residents who tested positive for the disease increased from 38 to 87 per day, with the percentage positive. tests that go from 5% to 6%.
Slow efforts come as the state moves closer to crossing 6,000 deaths. Meanwhile, the number of cases has leaned more toward younger residents.
According to state data, the majority of those who tested positive for infection in California are between 18 and 49 years old. That group consists of 118,900 individuals, most of the state’s more than 500,000 cases. Some counties further break down those numbers. In Los Angeles County, 41% of the nearly 100,000 cases are now among individuals between the ages of 18 and 40.
“While cases in this age range generally have a low risk of serious illness or death, Public Health is concerned that they may unknowingly infect parents, grandparents, and friends and family members who have underlying health conditions and who have increased risk of serious illness and death, “The health department shared in a statement Sunday.
In Riverside County, which represents the second highest number of cases in the state, residents ages 18-39 represent more than 5,900. In San Bernardino County, more than 2,100 people between the ages of 18 and 29 have been infected, and more than 2,200 people between the ages of 30 and 39 have been infected.
The age of those who test positive is getting younger. In June, 55% of those who tested positive were 40 or younger, compared to 38% in that group in April.
“It is a sign that younger people are playing an important role in driving the increase in new cases and potentially infecting vulnerable people,” the county said.
