Los Angeles County, which has greatly affected the state increase in coronavirus, reported more than 1,900 additional cases and 44 new deaths related to the virus on Friday.
There are 1,928 people hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county, with 29% in intensive care, according to the county Department of Public Health.
Authorities noted that delays in reporting from laboratories contributed to fewer reports and that the number of cases is expected to increase in the coming days. So far, Los Angeles County has identified a total of more than 168,000 cases of the virus and more than 4,300 deaths.
“Even with incomplete case and hospital data, we are seeing too much community spread of this virus, which means that many of our friends, family and neighbors are sick and suffering,” said Barbara Ferrer, director of public health for Los Angeles County , it’s a statement. . Put on a face mask, don’t meet with people you don’t live with and stay home as much as possible. The health of our community really is a collective effort. “
This week, health officials said the virus is on track to become the second leading cause of death in the county. From January to June, COVID-19 killed more than 3,400 people, county officials say. During the same period last year, coronary heart disease was only attributed as the cause of more deaths.
At a press conference on Friday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city would not present additional closings immediately, but urged residents to “save our economy with a mask.” For two weeks, Garcetti warned that the city is close to returning to some sort of order to stay home due to the increase in the case.
The city now changes test results within 23 hours, Garcetti said, noting that more than 100,000 people were tested at city sites this week, 11,000 more than last week.
Experts say the hospitalization and death totals reflect exposure to the virus that occurred weeks ago. It takes time to see how behavioral changes are affecting transmission and whether the steps taken to stop the spread of the disease are working.
This week, California went to New York for more confirmed cases of coronavirus than any other state. On Friday, the state reported 9,718 additional cases and 159 new deaths, totaling more than 435,000 cases.
The state has the highest number in part because it is the most populous state, but also because millions of residents have been unwilling or unable to practice social distancing and wearing masks that public health experts say protect against spread of the virus.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, California Secretary of Health and Human Services, said it may take three to five weeks to see the full effect of the measures the state has recently taken, including issuing a universal face mask order on 18 June and the renewal of restrictions on numerous activities and businesses. .
Times staff writers Luke Money and Colleen Shalby contributed to this report.
