Update
June 2

LA County Public Health has not provided any updated information The Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 60 new deaths and 1,202 new cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Forty people who died were over the age of 65; 17 people who died were between the ages of 41 and 65, and one person who died was between the ages of 18 and 40. Forty-five people had underlying health conditions including 31 people over the age of 65, 13 people between the ages of 41 and 65, and one person between the ages of 18 and 40. Two deaths were reported by the City of Long Beach.

To date, Public Health has identified 57,118 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, and a total of 2,443 deaths. Ninety-three percent of people who died had underlying health conditions. Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 2,258 people (99% of the cases reported by Public Health).

Upon further investigation, 52 cases and one death reported earlier were not LA County residents. As of today, 6,638 people who tested positive for COVID-19 (12% of positive cases) have been hospitalized at some point during their illness. There are 1,389 people who are currently hospitalized, 27% of these people are in the ICU and 18% are on ventilators. Testing capacity continues to increase in LA County, with testing results available for over 633,000 individuals and 8% of people testing positive.

“Each day, we are thinking of the many people who have lost their loved ones to COVID-19. We are deeply sorry for your loss, and we wish you peace through this very difficult time,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, director of Public Health. “We urge everyone, including the people across our community who are engaging in protests, to please care for each other by practicing physical distancing as much as possible and wearing a cloth face covering when around other people. These actions are important in preventing many more cases and hospitalizations from COVID-19. These actions can save lives.”

Public Health joins the many voices expressing dismay, anger and frustration at the murder of George Floyd by police, and supports the need for LA County residents to stand together against racism and violence. Because we are in the midst of a pandemic, everyone engaging in peaceful protest should always wear a face covering securely over their nose and mouth and keep six feet apart from others not in your household. Protestors who have had close contact with non-household members not wearing face coverings should, when possible, self-quarantine at their residence for 14 days and monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms. If they develop symptoms, they should call their healthcare provider and consider testing.

The best protection against COVID-19 continues to be to wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, self-isolate if you are sick, practice physical distancing, and wear a clean face covering when in contact with others from outside your household. 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.