LA County coronavirus cases top 150,000, deaths surpass 4,000
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County crossed a pair of grim milestones Friday, surpassing 150,000 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, while also passing the 4,000 mark in deaths.
Another 2,885 infections were confirmed by the county Friday. Health officials in Long Beach announced another 82 cases and Pasadena added 23 more.
The new cases gave the county a total of 150,424 throughout the pandemic.
Another 62 deaths were reported Friday, although one of those fatalities was announced Thursday by Long Beach. Long Beach reported one more fatality Friday. The new deaths lifted the overall county total to 4,048.
The figures capped a dreary week that saw the county twice set daily records for new cases.
Mayor Garcetti said Friday the city is still teetering on the edge of a "red'' coronavirus alert level, which would trigger stricter local stay-at-home orders and potentially more business closures.
The number of people hospitalized due to the virus remained high Friday, with Garcetti reporting a total of 2,188 patients, up slightly from Thursday and still among the highest figures of the pandemic.
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Spiking case numbers have health officials pleading with the public to adhere to health orders by avoiding large gatherings, wearing face coverings and distancing themselves from others while in public.
"Without aggressive action on the part of every person, we will not get back to slowing the spread,'' public health director Barbara Ferrer said.
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