Tuesday May 5, Los Angeles Public Officials disclosed charitable news surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak. L.A. is preparing for a gradual recovery of local businesses and community locations. There is concern of what guidance will be provided from the health department. The decisions made by city leaders continue to be guided by the data collected by the department of health services, and other professional medical personnel. Los Angeles County Director of Public Health, Barbara Ferrer delivered updated numbers that represent positive cases and death rates within the Los Angeles County. All public officials stressed the importance of the requirements of social distancing as L.A. approaches a new way of operating businesses.
Under the direction of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Hilda Solis, L.A. County is donating $3-million dollars to the L.A. regional food bank. With this donation, the food bank will continue to service families in Los Angeles. The L.A. Regional Food bank assisted 3,000 people last week in Baldwin Park. Their recent work also contributed to assisting 8,000 families in East L.A. at the Civic Center. Starting on Tuesday, elderly Angelenos can receive food from the Great Plates Delivery Program.
Barbara Ferrer, Director of Public Health shared the latest updates on the COVID-19 Virus. Ferrer shared Tuesday, May 5. there were 58 additional deaths, 43 of these individuals were between the ages of 65 and over, 38 of them with underlining health conditions. 10 people who died were between the ages of 41-65, seven of them had preexisting health concerns. One victim was under the age of 41, they also had underlining health concerns. This brings the total COVID-19 related deaths in the L.A. County to 1,313.
Barbara disclosed as of May 5. There were 1,638 new COVID-19 reports. In summary, there is a total amount of 27,815 coronavirus cases in the Los Angeles region. 768 incidents were reported in the city of Long Beach and 452 cases in the city of Pasadena. For the 1,201 fatal cases where race and ethnicity were identified; 12% were African American, 19% were Asian, 38% were LatinX, 28% were white, and 1% were native Hawaiian or pacific islander, and 1% identified as another ethnicity. There are tests calculating fatal case numbers by demographic, including where each victim fell on the poverty line. Within the unsheltered community, the director of public health confirmed 199 positive cases. There were 101 people who were sheltered and properly isolated.
The L.A. Department of Health will provide multiple resources for guidance, as local businesses open soon, Barbara Ferrer clarified that there will be specific requirements within each sector, in addition to a standardized physical distancing requirement all brick-and-mortars will adhere to. Ferrer stated, “There are 20-30 different very specific guidance’s that we have issued to date, some are sector specific or business specific, some are more helpful for families and individuals…” she continued, “…As we move into recovery, we will be issuing both general guidelines for all of us to adhere to and some of that will show up in the modified health officer orders, but you can also count on very specific guidance for sectors, that will guide them through safely re-opening.”
