Larimer County Reports One New Death, 11 New COVID-19 Outbreaks
- by Joy Garcia
- in Medicine
- — Jan 19, 2021
Although it is the first confirmed case of the variant in Los Angeles County, public health officials here believe that the new, more contagious strain is already spreading in the community, and are continuing to test samples.
The Douglas County Health Department reported 218 cases of coronavirus on Saturday, upping the total in the county since the pandemic began to 57,951.
The figures push Los Angeles to the top county in the nation in terms of COVID-19 cases, totaling more than the next two counties, Cook and Maricopa, combined.
With the variant's ability to rapidly pass from person to person, it could quickly drive up infection numbers, inevitably leading to more hospitalizations and ultimately more deaths, Ferrer said.
Los Angeles has also taken harsher enforcement measures against individuals and businesses who do not comply with the coronavirus lockdown orders, levying huge fines and even threatening utility cutoffs for businesses and residents who don't comply. "And that's one less person that's going to become a victim to this virus", he said. One projection from early January estimated that one in every 17 people in LA county now had Covid.
Statewide, a total of 1,152 long-term care facility residents have tested positive for COVID-19, with 132 deaths.
The Carthay neighborhood incorporates the areas of Los Angeles between the Beverly Hills city limits and Fairfax Avenue, with Beverly Boulevard as the northern border and Wilshire Boulevard as the southern border. This report raised concern to public health officials.
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Capitol police spokeswoman Eva Malecki said there were now no fires on or within the campus. "If outside, seek cover". Capitol Police instructed the complex to "return to normal operations" shortly after 11:30 a.m.
In the county's hospitals, more than half of all patients and 75% of those in the ICU have the virus, said Dr Christina Ghaly, LA county's health services director. "This more contagious variant makes it easier for infections to spread at worksites, at stores, and in our homes", Ferrer said.
The county estimates that one-third of the county's 10 million residents have been infected with the virus at some point since the pandemic began.
"We should be prepared to do more if cases remain high", she said.
The number is more than triple the cumulative number of cases that have been confirmed through testing and continues a trend that has been worrying authorities since late last month.
Ferrer noted that average daily new cases in the county have risen by 1,092% since November, average daily deaths are up 1,133% and hospitalizations are up 875%.
Warren County's COVID death toll went up dramatically on Wednesday, adding seven fatalities.