The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health released updated COVID-19 data Monday, while again urging the public to take preventative measures as cases in younger people increase.
During a virtual news briefing Monday, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer urged people to socially distance, wear face coverings and practice good hygiene, as cases in people aged 12 to 49 account for 68% of new COVID-19 cases in the county.
“It’s a troubling trend,” Ferrer said. “People aged 18 to 49 contribute the highest number of cases, that age group accounts for 58% of new cases and, if you add teenagers, who are the group to most like socialize, it goes up to 68%.”
Ferrer added the number of hospitalizations for people ages 18 to 29 has nearly doubled since the start of the pandemic and reminded the public the virus can infect people of all age groups.
Ferrer also updated the number of health care workers affected: To date, 16,435 health care workers and first responders were diagnosed with COVID-19 since March, and 101 have died.
“They are arguably the highest risk group of essential workers,” said Ferrer. “They’re essential to help us recover from the virus, so we’ve been keeping a close eye on the case count, hospitalization and deaths from this group.”
Ferrer also reported 2,072 pregnant women have tested positive for COVID-19 since March, and three have died while having underlying health conditions.
“Please keep in mind you can have the virus for 48 hours before showing symptoms, if you even show symptoms,” Ferrer said. “This virus is very much present in our work sites and public places.”
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials released the following updated COVID-19 statistics Monday:
Countywide COVID-19 cases reported in the past 24 hours: 923
Total COVID-19 cases in L.A. County: 289,366
New deaths related to COVID-19 reported in the past 24 hours: 1
Total COVID-19 deaths in L.A. County: 6,877
Hospitalizations countywide: 722; 27% of whom are in the ICU and 14% on ventilators
Hospitalizations at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital as of Oct. 15: 11
COVID-19 cases reported in the Santa Clarita Valley in the past 24 hours: 22
Total COVID-19 cases in the SCV: 6,774
Total COVID-19 deaths in the SCV: 68
The number of SCV cases, including all area health care providers’ daily figures and those at Pitchess Detention Center, broken down into region, are as follows:
City of Santa Clarita: 3,945
Unincorporated – Acton: 78
Unincorporated – Agua Dulce: 30
Unincorporated – Bouquet Canyon: 10
Unincorporated – Canyon Country: 161
Unincorporated – Castaic: 2,152 (majority of Castaic cases come from Pitchess Detention Center, exact number unavailable)
Unincorporated – Lake Hughes: 5
Unincorporated – Newhall: 15
Unincorporated – Placerita Canyon: 0
Unincorporated – San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon: 0
Unincorporated – Sand Canyon: 7
Unincorporated – Saugus: 28
Unincorporated – Saugus/Canyon Country: 11
Unincorporated – Stevenson Ranch: 189
Unincorporated – Val Verde: 91
Unincorporated – Valencia: 52
To view all coronavirus-related stories, visit signalscv.com/category/news/coronavirus.
