The county of Los Angeles received updates regarding the COVID-19 outbreak among residents. Public officials explained the wellbeing of the economy will be determined on how quick sectors are able to adapt to health officer orders and a new sense of racial equality. Los Angeles Public Health Department updated the county with the latest statistics L.A. currently sees in community transmission and mortality rate.
Recent statistics shown on Wednesday reflect 33 additional deaths, 12 of these individuals were over the age of 80, 11 of them had underlining health conditions. 18 people who died were between the ages of 65-79, 16 victims had preexisting health concerns. Three individuals were between the ages of 50-64, and all of them had underlining health problems. This brings the total COVID-19 related deaths in L.A. County to 6,944.
The relationship between COVID-19 infection and ethnicity were provided. The racial background collected 6,538 fatal cases showed 10% were African American, 14% were Asian, slightly less than 1% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 52% were LatinX, 23% were White, and 1% identified as a different race or ethnicity. 92% of those who died due to COVID-19 had preexisting health concerns.
There were 510 new COVID-19 reports, Los Angeles Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer stated this was a particularly low number due to a miscount happening within their test process. In summary, there is an approximate amount of 290,486 coronavirus cases in the Los Angeles region. 12,754 incidents were reported in the city of Long Beach and 2,692 cases in the city of Pasadena. Amid the unsheltered, there were 1,979 positive cases.
Earlier this year, Los Angeles County started the LA. VS Hate Campaign, It is a 3-part strategy to bring the County under one mission of unity, create a system to make reporting hate crime easier, and finally to expand the capacity to act when faced with a hate crime.
The campaign uses art inspired programs to uplift the unity in a diversified community. Artists are invited to participate in creative interventions to share a common passion with all residents. This is to add to the RENEW program that was announced by the Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti, which looks to bring more opportunity for people of color to be in leadership roles.
In addition to building unity, there is a highlighted focus on the resurgence of schools. on a state and local level there has been a zoomed in focus on getting schools re-opened. Los Angeles’ school system has now increased to 25% capacity for students with special needs. Younger children that are not able to learn online are qualifying as high needs students and are permitted to go to selected schools that are participating in the cohort program.
“We continue to slowly ease health officer orders and move forward in our efforts to be safer at work, safer at play, and safer in our communities.” Chairwoman Kathryn Barger explained the status of the county, she highlighted that one of the most critical tasks is to manage case rates so schools can re-open.
