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LOS ANGELES - Public health officials Thursday reported nine additional deaths as a result of the coronavirus in Los Angeles County, bringing the county's total number of deaths up to 21.
“It is the highest daily number we've released to date,” said Los Angeles County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer. “Unfortunately, we have been expecting this. To the families and loved ones, we are deeply sorry for your loss."
Details about the latest COVID-19 deaths were not immediately released.
The number of confirmed cases in the county rose to 1,216 after 421 new cases were reported Thursday, according to Ferrer.
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Out of the confirmed cases, 21% required hospitalization at some point during their battle with the virus, Ferrer said.
The county's mortality rate is 1.6%, which Ferrer reiterated is higher than the mortality rate for influenza.
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Ferrer said that the latest numbers are primarily attributed to the dramatic increase of testing ability across the county. Since March 25, over 9,400 tested have been administered. Of those tested, approximately 10% were found to be positive for COVID-19, Ferrer said.
"If there are 1,000 people who are positive and each one of those people infects two other people... If we don't curtail that spread, within a few weeks, there could be over a million people that would be infected in LA County," Ferrer said. "And if 20% of those people who are infected need some kind of hospital care, you can see why we're urging everyone to help us slow the spread."
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Ferrer said that social distancing remains our best defense against the virus, and urges all residents to abide by current measures in place across the state.
"In order to slow the spread and save lives, all of us must do our part by staying home, adhering to all social distancing measures and caring for each other," she said.
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Social distancing is not only about preventing the illness itself, but rather, slowing the rate at which people get sick.
"You're serving your community by staying home," said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. "So please, unless you need to leave for necessities: Stay in your house."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of the virus include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
Public Health has issued the following guidance during this time of increased spread:
"If you are mildly sick, stay home for at least seven days or until 72 hours after being fever free, whichever is longer. Call your doctor if you are concerned and/or your symptoms worsen. Individuals who are elderly, have underlying health conditions or pregnant should consider contacting their providers earlier when they are sick."
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Public Health released the following list of locations of confirmed cases:
Laboratory Confirmed Cases 1216
-- Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas) 1166**
-- Long Beach 41
-- Pasadena 9
Deaths 21
-- Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas) 20***
-- Long Beach 1
-- Pasadena 0
Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- 0 to 17 19
- 18 to 40 462
- 41 to 65 462
- over 65 223
Hospitalization
- Hospitalized (Ever) 253
CITY / COMMUNITY****
Agoura Hills* 5
Alhambra 8
Altadena* 6
Arcadia 6
Arleta 2
Athens 3
Azusa* 1
Baldwin Hills 4
Bell 2
Bell Gardens* 3
Bellflower* 8
Beverly Hills 15
Beverlywood* 10
Boyle Heights 7
Brentwood* 42
Burbank 6
Calabasas* 5
Canoga Park 3
Canyon Country* 1
Carson* 21
Castaic 2
Century City* 9
Century Palms/Cove* 3
Cerritos* 2
Chatsworth 1
Claremont* 1
Cloverdale/Cochran* 3
Compton* 5
Covina* 4
Crenshaw District* 2
Crestview* 9
Culver City* 8
Del Rey 9
Diamond Bar 2
Downey 10
Downtown* 7
Duarte* 2
Eagle Rock 3
East Hollywood 2
East Los Angeles 4
Echo Park* 7
El Segundo* 2
Encino 21
Exposition Park 2
Florence* 7
Gardena 4
Glassell Park 2
Glendale 23
Glendora* 2
Granada Hills 8
Hacienda Heights 2
Hancock Park* 10
Harbor City* 1
Harbor Gateway* 3
Harvard Heights* 2
Hawthorne* 9
Highland Park 3
Hollywood 27
Hollywood Hills 17
Hyde Park* 1
Inglewood 12
Koreatown 7
La Canada Flintridge* 6
La Mirada* 5
La Puente 1
La Verne* 2
Lake Balboa 3
Lakewood* 7
Lancaster* 16
Lawndale* 2
Leimert Park* 2
Lincoln Heights 1
Little Bangladesh 1
Lomita* 12
Los Feliz* 5
Lynwood 6
Manhattan Beach* 21
Mar Vista 8
Maywood* 1
Melrose 47
Miracle Mile* 13
Monrovia* 2
Montebello 1
Monterey Park 4
Mt. Washington* 3
North Hills 1
North Hollywood 15
Northridge 4
Norwalk 9
Pacific Palisades* 12
Pacoima 1
Palmdale 2
Palms 10
Panorama City 4
Paramount 4
Park La Brea* 8
Pico 5
Pico Rivera 2
Playa Vista* 8
Pomona* 3
Porter Ranch 2
Rancho Palos Verdes 6
Redondo Beach 20
Reseda 8
San Dimas* 1
San Fernando* 3
San Gabriel 3
San Pedro* 5
Santa Clarita 16
Santa Monica 21
Santa Monica Mountains* 4
Sherman Oaks 17
Silverlake 11
South El Monte* 4
South Gate 4
South Park 2
South Pasadena* 4
South Whittier* 4
Stevenson Ranch* 3
Studio City* 11
Sun Valley 2
Sunland* 1
Sylmar 2
Tarzana 14
Temple* 6
Torrance 14
Tujunga* 2
University Park* 6
Valinda* 1
Valley Glen* 12
Van Nuys 4
Venice 11
Vermont Knolls* 3
Vermont Vista* 5
Vernon Central 1
Walnut* 1
Watts 1
West Adams 6
West Covina 4
West Hills* 4
West Hollywood 35
West Los Angeles* 5
West Vernon* 6
West Whittier/Los Nietos* 1
Westchester 7
Westlake 1
Westwood 11
Whittier* 3
Wholesale District 6
Willowbrook* 1
Wilmington 5
Wilshire Center 2
Winnetka* 5
Woodland Hills 13
- Under Investigation 141
*These regions contain multiple communities.
**These numbers are subject to change based on further investigation; four previously reported cases were not in Public Health's jurisdiction.
***One death previously reported was not in Public Health's jurisdiction.
****Locations that were less <25000 have been added to the nearest city or community.