Los Angeles County reported 1,062 new cases of COVID-19 and 17 deaths Saturday, bringing the county’s totals to 273,638 cases and 6,642 fatalities.
Coronavirus-related hospitalizations in the county dropped from 730 Friday to 698, with 29% of those people in intensive care. Officials said the county averaged 717 hospitalizations per day this week, the lowest number they’ve seen in six months.
However, daily case numbers continue to indicate there is still widespread community transmission, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
And while not mentioning President Donald Trump by name, county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the outbreak in the nation’s capital should serve as a warning that the virus is still being actively transmitted.
“Our recovery journey depends on the decisions we each make every day about how to avoid transmitting the virus. We are witnessing firsthand in Washington D.C. how very easy it is for this virus to infect dozens of people in a very short time when individuals are not wearing face coverings, distancing and/or quarantining,” she said.
“Weekends are typically a time where we go out and enjoy time outdoors; please remember to take all precautions, avoid crowds and proceed with the knowledge that each of us is capable at any moment of becoming infected and infecting others.”
Her comments come on the heels of nail salons being permitted to reopen indoors as of Thursday, and outdoor card rooms set to open Monday. Indoor shopping malls will reopen Wednesday. The nail salons and indoor shopping malls will be limited to 25% of capacity, and mall food courts must remain closed.
Outdoor playgrounds can reopen at the discretion of individual cities, but everyone over age 2 must wear a face covering and adult supervision is required.
Health officials said they are still working with county attorneys to finalize plans for the resumption of outdoor beverage service — with food sold by third-party providers — at breweries and wineries. That process is expected to be “completed in a week,” according to the county.
Schools that want to provide in-person instruction for students in pre-kindergarten through second grade can submit applications to the county for waivers beginning Monday. Waivers will be limited to 30 schools per week, with priority given to campuses in the generally lowest-income areas.
Schools that are granted waivers will have to limit groups of students to no more than 12, and no more than two supervising adults in each classroom. Those teacher-student groups must remain together for the entire day “for all activities,” according to the county.
Complete safety protocols for all reopening businesses will be posted on the county’s website.
So as of today, the confirmed infections in West Hollywood has increased by four to 584. The number of people in West Hollywood who have died of COVID-19 related illnesses is still listed as five.
In Beverly Hills, the number of confirmed infections as of today has increased by one to 702. The number of COVID-19 related deaths in Beverly Hills to date 12. The number of COVID-19 infection confirmed among Culver City residents remains 396. The number of deaths remains at 29. The number of infections in Hollywood has increased by five 1,241. The number of deaths remains at 14. The Melrose neighborhood’s number of infections has increased by three 1,970. The number of COVID-19 related deaths is 72.
Public Health has a dedicated call line for confirmed cases of COVID-19. If you are positive for COVID-19 and have not yet connected with a public health specialist or need more information on services, call toll-free at 1 (833) 540-0473. Residents who do not have COVID-19 can continue to call 211 for resources or more information.
One way the virus can be transmitted is through a cough, a sneeze or even through air that comes from the mouth when someone talks. For that reason, residents must wear face coverings when out in public and can be cited for not doing so. The citations come with a $250 fine and a $50 administrative fee.
West Hollywood residents with questions about the COVID-19 pandemic or who are looking for resources to deal with it can find answers on the City of West Hollywood’swebsite. Here is a list of links to sections about particular subjects and issues:
