The number of deaths in Long Beach from COVID-19 complications continued to climb on Tuesday with three more fatalities, bringing the total to 17. Two of the deaths announced today are connected to nursing homes or other long-term care facilities, which now account for 12 of the city’s fatalities.
The latest cases included a man and two women—all with underlying health conditions.
The overall number of positive cases continued to climb, but at a slower rate compared with previous weeks. On Tuesday, the city reported 363 positive cases, up from 350 on Monday.
That number includes 40 people who are hospitalized and approximately 165 cases where people have recovered, officials said. Those who have recovered include 16 Long Beach firefighters and one police officer who had previously tested positive for COVID-19. They’ve now all been cleared to return to work, officials said Tuesday. At present, there are no first-responders who are positive for the virus.
Long Beach’s long-term care facilities continue to be epicenters for infections with the city reporting 77 positive cases in six longterm care facilities.
A seventh facility, Royal Care Skilled Nursing Center near the Wrigley neighborhood, reported two coronavirus cases on Tuesday. The city has not yet included that facility in its numbers.
The six facilities the city lists are:
- Palmcrest Grand Assisted Living
- Long Beach Healthcare Center
- Pacific Palms Healthcare
- Bixby Knolls Towers
- Broadway by the Sea
- Glen Park Assisted Living
Royal Care in a statement said those who may have been exposed to the coronavirus are “being actively monitored for any signs or symptoms of respiratory concerns, including getting their temperatures checked frequently, in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
Both of its residents with COVID-19 are being treated in a local acute-care facility.
“Please know that we have followed, and will continue follow, the guidance set forth for privacy, patient care, employee safety and efforts to help stop the spread of COVID-19 as provided by the California Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,” the facility said. “Providing for the safety and well-being of our residents and staff is our paramount priority.”
As a whole, Los Angeles County saw 40 more deaths due to the coronavirus, the largest single-day jump in fatalities since the pandemic began, while the overall number of cases topped 10,000.
The sharp increases came one day after the county reported its lowest number of new cases—239. County public health director Barbara Ferrer noted that Monday totals are generally lower due to more limited testing on the weekends.
Ferrer reported 670 new cases on Tuesday, raising the countywide total to 10,047. The 40 new deaths increased the county’s total to 360, and again raised the local mortality rate to 3.6%—representing the percentage of coronavirus-positive residents who have died.
The percentage has been steadily increasing, having been at about 1.8% in early April.
— City News Service contributed to this report 3 more dead as coronavirus continues its spread in Long Beach nursing homes