LA Health Care Worker Dies Of Coronavrus As New Cases Spike
LOS ANGELES, CA — A Los Angeles health care worker was among ten coronavirus deaths reported in Los Angeles County over the last 24 hours as the region's COVID-19 cases tripled in just days.
L.A. County health officials announced 10 more deaths due to COVID-19, including four people under age 65. None had underlying health conditions.
"While the majority of people who are passing do in fact have underlying health conditions, they all don't, which is a reminder of the ferociousness of this virus,"said Barbara Ferrer, director of the county's Department of Public Health. Countywide, there have been 54 deaths. Since Monday, 548 new cases of COVID-19 were reported, bringing Los Angeles County's total 3,011.
No details about the health care worker, who was over age 60, were released.
Ferrer noted that the total number of cases in the county has tripled over the past week, mirroring the increase in testing capacity over the same time. But she said the consistency of the testing results indicates that many more people in the county are infected with the virus and simply haven't been tested yet.
"If there are more infected people, then there's a greater possibility of them infecting others," she said.
She said 79% of the county's cases are people between the ages of 18 and 65.
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Ferrer noted that many people are infected who "may not experience any debilitating disease, but they may be capable of infecting others."
A total of 594 people of the county's virus-positive patients have been hospitalized at some point, with 267 people hospitalized as of Tuesday, most of them aged 55 or older, and one-fourth of them are in intensive care, including six people under age 35.
Even as the first coronavirus death of a health care worker in Los Angeles County highlights the danger to those on the front lines, Gov. Gavin Newsom called Monday for retired healthcare workers and medical students to help care for patients as a surge COVID-19 cases threatens to overwhelm hospitals across the state.
Ferrer also pointed to new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that widens the number of people who should go into quarantine if they are exposed to a patient who has the coronavirus or is suspected of having it. Previously, authorities have said only people who had "close contact' with a symptomatic patient need to quarantine, but the new guidelines state that people should quarantine if they were exposed to a patient within 48 hours of them developing symptoms.
"This is in recognition of emerging science that suggests there are a certain number of people who, before they become symptomatic, are in fact infecting others," she said.
According to officials, outbreaks among care facilities appear to be among the driving factors in the county's spike in new cases. Los Angeles County Department of Health officials confirmed outbreaks at 11 nursing home or care facilities.
Health officials are investigating 35 "institutional settings" that have at least one case of the virus. Twenty of those are nursing homes, and one is a temporary shelter for the homeless. Among those 35 institutions, 155 cases have been reported among residents and staff.
"Where there's one case at an institutional setting, our Department of Public Health team does go in and it works with the facility and management and staff to ensure they're doing the best they can to protect the health of their residents," Ferrer said Monday. "... Most of the residents who are in facilities where there are cases have, in fact, been quarantined."
County fire Chief Daryl Osby announced that 10 members of his agency have tested positive for the coronavirus. Seven of them have recovered, but three more are in isolation, he said.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said seven members of his department have tested positive, and more than 100 others are under quarantine.
Ferrer said the county is still seeing a roughly 1.8% mortality rate, meaning that of everyone who has tested positive for coronavirus in the county, 1.8% have died. Ferrer said last week the mortality rate in New York is about 1.4%
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To date, more than 15,000 people have been tested for the coronavirus in Los Angeles county, said Ferrer. Of those tested, roughly 12 percent have come back positive.
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There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Follow CDC's recommendations for using a facemask.
CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
City News Service contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on the Studio City Patch
