Death toll from virus continues to climb

As businesses across the state continue to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of cases and deaths continue to rise.

Los Angeles County Health Director Barbara Ferrer said during a Friday update, that 20 additional deaths had been reported as a result of the virus.

There are a total of 68,875 cases in the county and 2,832 deaths, according to the Department of Public Health’s web page.

Of the new deaths reported, 14 were over the age of 65 and 13 of those had underlying health conditions. One was between the age of 4165 and also had underlying health conditions. Five of the newly reported deaths were in the City of Long Beach. Most of those reported on Friday were people in skilled nursing facilities.

“We are mourning with many, many families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19,” Ferrer said.

The majority of those who have died, 93%, had underly

ing health conditions.

She said that number has stayed consistent throughout the pandemic. She also reported 1,633 new cases, 500 of which are a result of delayed reporting at one lab. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County is 70,476, which includes 2,512 in Long Beach and 1,023 in Pasadena.

Ferrer also reported 488 confirmed cases among the homeless population. She said 211 of those who tested positive were sheltered and appropriately isolated and their close contacts were quarantined.

Acton has 16 cases and two deaths, Agua Dulce has nine cases and no deaths, Anaverde has two cases and no deaths, Lake Hughes has one case and no deaths, Lake Los Angeles has 32 cases and two deaths, Leona Valley has three cases and no deaths, Littlerock has 16 cases and no deaths, Littlerock/ Juniper Hills has two cases and no deaths, Littlerock/Pearblossom has 23 cases and no deaths, Llano has one case and no deaths, North Lancaster has six cases and no deaths, Lancaster has 719 cases and 12 deaths; Palmdale has 867 cases and 20 deaths, Pearblossom/Llano has four cases and no deaths, Quartz Hill has 47 cases and nine deaths, while there are 24 cases in Sun Village and no deaths.

In addition, 1,389 people with confirmed cases are hospitalized, 29% are in ICU and 20 are on ventilators. So far, there have been 7,250 people hospitalized. There are 16,142 cases in institutional settings, which represents 23% of all the cases in Los Angeles County.

There are 1,027 confirmed cases in jail facilities. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department reported 768 cases among those that are incarcerated and 259 cases among staff.

There are 178 cases in state prisons. Of those, 128 are inmate cases and 50 are staff; there are 759 in federal prisons, with 744 affecting those incarcerated and 15 among staff; there are 32 cases in juvenile facilities of which 15 youth are infected and 17 staff have the virus. This number marks an increase of one among staff, from the Wednesday update. Ferrer also said there’s been an additional death at Terminal Island, bringing the total number to nine.

Of the overall deaths reported, 41% were Latino or Latinx, 29% were White, 17% were Asian, 11% were African-American, less than 1% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 1% identified as “other.”

Ferrer said there continues to be a disproportionate affect on certain populations. Despite there being a decline of cases and deaths across all groups, people in higher poverty areas continue to be affected more than others.

“The numbers continue to be very disturbing and require immediate action,” Ferrer said.

Those experiencing high rates of poverty have a death rate four times higher than others — 56 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to 15 deaths per 100,000 people.

Ferrer stressed the importance of continuing social distancing and wearing cloth face coverings in public.