Even as new cases and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are beginning to stabilize throughout the county, Long Beach officials on Tuesday reported five more people died of the virus—four of them related to long-term care facilities in the city.
The health department reported 59 new cases in the city, a stark difference from the 184 new cases reported Monday. They did not explain why the number was so much lower, however officials noted they still anticipate more cases to come from the statewide backlog caused by a technical glitch.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County reported 1,003 new cases of COVID-19, but said the number was lower than usual because a larger lab did not report some of its cases. County health officials also reported 64 more people died of COVID-19.
County officials said daily hospitalizations continue to decline. They reported 1,352 people are hospitalized with the disease, 32% of whom are in intensive care.
“The decreasing number of daily hospitalizations is one of the best indicators that our efforts over the last few weeks are working, as it is an accurate representation of how many people are currently seriously ill from the virus,” officals said.
Long Beach health officials reported 78 residents are currently hospitalized with the disease. That number has been fluctuating in 70s and 80s for the last week, but down from its highest point of 104 in late July.