New death reported in Santa Clarita due to COVID-19 brings total to 24

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As COVID-19 cases in at least 19 states continue to increase, including California, the Santa Clarita Valley number of cases, which includes the numbers from an outbreak at Pitchess Detention Center, increased by 137 over the last 24 hours. 

County Public Health officials also reported an additional death Wednesday in the SCV, bringing the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the SCV to 24.  

The spike in the number of cases in Val Verde, which had first been reported Tuesday, continued to increase Wednesday, showing a 15-case jump in the last day. 

Previous spikes for the Val Verde area were incorrectly attributed due to a geo-mapping system error, per Los Angeles County Public Health Department officials.

At least 51 of the cases reported in the communities surrounding the jail are not the result of the Pitchess outbreak, according to Public Health officials. However, DPH did not clarify whether Val Verde’s spike was attributed to an accurate increase in cases or another geomapping error.

Los Angeles County saw an increase of 1,275 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last day, bringing the total number countywide to 67,064. Officials also reported 61 new deaths related to COVID-19 in the last day, bringing the total number to 2,768. 

During a Wednesday news conference, Barbara Ferrer, director of the L.A. County Public Health Department, said that, of those who died, 42 were over the age of 65 and 37 of them had underlying conditions. 

Of those who died, 13 were between the ages of 41-64 and nine had underlying conditions, while the remaining three were between the ages of 18-40. All three had underlying conditions. 

The mortality rate within L.A. County is now at 4.1% among confirmed cases. 

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital officials released their latest figures Tuesday, reporting a total of 2,045 patients had been tested — many of whom have been tested more than once — with 234 tests returning positive, 2,013 negative and 60 still pending, according to spokesman Patrick Moody. Three people remained in the hospital and 91 have recovered and been discharged.

Ferrer also announced a new health order Wednesday: Effective June 12, gyms, professional sports arenas, day camps, arenas, zoos, museums, aquariums, campgrounds, recreational vehicle parks, swimming pools, film and television production, as well as hotels for leisure travel, will be allowed to open. However, they would need to follow modified health order guidelines.

Public Health reported Wednesday the number of SCV cases, including all area health care providers’ daily figures and Pitchess Detention Center, totaled 2,488, which, broken down by region, is as follows: 

City of Santa Clarita: 850

Unincorporated – Acton: 16

Unincorporated – Agua Dulce: 10

Unincorporated – Bouquet Canyon: 1

Unincorporated – Canyon Country: 36

Unincorporated – Castaic: 1,422 (majority of Castaic cases come from Pitchess Detention Center, exact number unavailable)

Unincorporated – Lake Hughes: 1

Unincorporated – Newhall: 1

Unincorporated – Placerita Canyon: 0

Unincorporated – San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon: 0

Unincorporated – Sand Canyon: 0

Unincorporated – Saugus: 4

Unincorporated – Saugus/Canyon Country: 0

Unincorporated – Stevenson Ranch: 37

Unincorporated – Val Verde: 99 

Unincorporated – Valencia: 11

As of Wednesday, the county has not responded to requests to clarify how many cases are attributed to Castaic residents and how many to Pitchess inmates, or whether the increase listed under Val Verde is accurate.

Pitchess Detention Center, including the North County Correctional Facility, had a reported 1,792 inmates and 86 staff members diagnosed as COVID-19 positive. Some of those cases are not yet included in the Castaic total, but the county has not indicated how many. 

To view all coronavirus-related stories, visit signalscv.com/category/news/coronavirus.

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