On June 26 the Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health reported increases of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and the positivity rate for testing over the last several weeks. The seven-day average of daily new cases is now 1,979, an increase from the 1,379 average two weeks ago. There are 1,676 people who are currently hospitalized. This is higher than 1,350 to 1,450 daily hospitalizations seen in recent weeks. Testing results are available for over 1,020,000 individuals with 9% of people testing positive. Both the cumulative positivity rate has increased from 8% to 9%, and the seven-day average of the daily positivity rate has increased to 8.8%. Public Health reminds everyone that they remain safer at home and to always wear a face covering securely over their nose and mouth and keep six feet apart from others not in their household when out and about.

Today Public Health has confirmed 25 new deaths bringing the total numbers of death in Los Angeles County from COVID-19 to 3,267.

Of this total and as of June 24 at 8 p.m., Glendale has reported 103 deaths, La Cañada Flintridge has reported six deaths, Eagle Rock reported 16 deaths, Sunland reported 20 deaths and Tujunga has reported 11 deaths. In the unincorporated areas of LA County Altadena has reported seven deaths and La Crescenta/Montrose has reported one death.

As of June 26 Public Health reported 1,809 new positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County bringing the total of positive cases to 93,232. Included in that total number is Glendale with a total of 1,342 positive cases of COVID-19, 72 in La Cañada Flintridge, 297 in Eagle Rock, 16 in Shadow Hills, 209 in Sunland and 173 in Tujunga. In the unincorporated areas of LA County, Altadena reported a total of 214 positive cases of COVID-19 and La Crescenta/Montrose reported 45.

As the weekend approaches, Public Health underscores the collective responsibility shared among everyone including businesses and residents to slow the spread of COVID-19. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, weekend visits to nightlife spots like bars, breweries, wineries, lounges and dive bars were around 700,000. Once Safer-at-Home went into effect, weekend visits dropped to around 200,000. Recent estimated number of visits to nightlife spots in LA County have shown between April 6, when nightlife visits were at their lowest since the Safer-at-Home Order was in effect, and June 20, the weekend after these businesses were permitted to reopen following infection control directives, visits increased 157%. It is estimated that over 500,000 people visited LA County nightlife spots on June 20. Because this virus has not changed and is still easily transmitted among people in contact with each other, it is important for everyone to follow the directives and to do their part every day to keep everyone as safe as possible.

The best protection against COVID-19 continues to be to wash hands frequently, avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, self-isolate if sick, practice physical distancing, and wear a clean face covering when in contact with others from outside their household. It’s important if someone thinks they could be positive for COVID-19 and are awaiting testing results to stay at home and act as if they are positive. This means self-isolating for 10 days and 72 hours after symptoms and fever subside, or until they receive a negative result. If a person tests positive for COVID-19, they should plan on receiving a call from a contact tracer to discuss how to protect themselves and others, to find out where they may have been, and who they were in close contact with while infectious. People who have underlying health conditions remain at much greater risk for serious illness from COVID-19, so it will continue to be very important for the County’s vulnerable residents to stay at home as much as possible, to have groceries and medicine delivered, and to call their providers immediately if they have even mild symptoms.