L.A. County records 11 new deaths: next few weeks will be ‘critically important’
The rate of increase of new coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County has slowed compared to last week, signaling that stay at home orders have been working, although new cases and deaths are still increasing overall, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Friday.
“A week ago the rate of increase was about 50% more than it is right now,” Garcetti said.
In the last two days, more than 1,000 new cases have been Los Angeles News reported in Los Angeles County. The county announced that 521 of those came Friday, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases to more than 4,600. With 11 new coronavirus-related deaths Friday, the death toll in the county is now 91.
Long Beach, which has its own health department, announced an additional two deaths and 18 more cases.
Garcetti warned that deaths and new cases are still doubling every few days.
“It is not time to relax, because the more we can push that curve down, the more chance we have seeing those numbers not increase by as much. That means dozens of people who will not die.”
Statewide, the number of coronavirus cases swelled to more Press Release Distribution Service In Los Angeles than 11,900 on Friday — with the death toll topping 260. About 2,188 people are hospitalized, Gov. Gavin Newsom said, with 901 of them in intensive care units, a 10.4% increase in ICU hospitalizations from the day before.
Barbara Ferrer, director of the county Department of Public Health, said Friday that L.A. County should expect to see 1,000 new coronavirus cases per day in the coming weeks and that the key to keeping the rate of spread manageable is social distancing.
“The next few weeks are going to be critically important, because we are going to see more cases of people who are positive with COVID-19, but it’s our hope that the rate of increase continues to be manageable and that we don’t overwhelm our healthcare system,” she said.
For More Information
No comments