Los Angeles County reported 1,823 new cases of COVID-19 and 98 additional deaths today, bringing the total number of countywide fatalities to over 22,000.
The number of coronavirus patients in LA County hospitals has fallen to 1,176, according to state health officials. That’s a huge drop from the peak of the winter surge in early January, when the number was over 8,000.
Saturday’s numbers brought the county’s totals to 1,201,866 cases and 22,008 deaths since the pandemic began, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
“Today’s grim milestone (surpassing 20,000 deaths) reminds us of the human toll of this pandemic and how actions affect cases, hospitalizations and deaths several weeks from now,” Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. “As we move into spring and temperatures in Los Angeles County warm up, many people will be out taking advantage of our beautiful county. I ask you do so responsibly by avoiding large gatherings and crowds, always wearing your mask, and at this time, postponing non-essential travel.”
In Long Beach 857 people have died from COVID-19, according to numbers the city released Thursday.
The county also reported 16 additional cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, bringing the total cases of MIS-C in LA County to 116 children, including one child death.
All 116 children with MIS-C were hospitalized, and 41% were treated in the ICU. Of the children with MIS-C, 29% were under the age of 5, 43% were between 5 and 11, and 28% were between 12 and 20. Latino children account for 75% of the reported cases.
MIS-C is an inflammatory condition associated with COVID-19; symptoms include fever that does not go away and inflamed body parts, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs.
County health officials also said that testing results were available for nearly 5,885,000 people, with 19% testing positive. Saturday’s daily test positivity rate is 1.9%.