LA County Hit With 98 New Coronavirus Cases in 48 Hours

LOS ANGELES, CA — Coronavirus infections in Los Angeles County continued climbing Wednesday while health officials urged residents not to lose faith in the power of social distancing. Maintaining a little distance will save lives, said LA County Department of Public Health officials.

Authorities confirmed 46 more cases of coronavirus in LA County Wednesday, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, head of the county Department of Public Health said. Additionally, officials at the Long Beach health department identified two more cases. As of Wednesday, the county's total number of infections reached 192. That means nearly 100 new cases have been confirmed in Los Angeles County in 48 hours.

Ferrer urged residents not to get discouraged or get the idea that social distancing efforts aren't working.

"Because we cannot stop the spread of COVID-19, all of our strategies are aimed at slowing the spread," she said. "We need to work hard to make sure that happens. ... This is what you often hear as flattening the curve."

SEE ALSO: Resources To Help Those In Need In LA County Amid Coronavirus

Only one death from coronavirus has been reported in Los Angeles County.

Ferrer thanked residents for their efforts avoiding large gatherings, remaining home and distancing themselves from others. She noted, however, that the mandates don't mean people cannot leave their homes.

"Everyone should remain at home as much as possible," she said, adding that "you should, however, feel free to take a walk, a hike, a run -- just not with a group of people."

While again stressing the heightened danger of the virus to people over 65, she hailed efforts by grocery stores to provide them with specialized times to shop. But she said, "The safest option for all seniors is to have food and medicine and essential services delivered to them in their homes."

Albertsons, which is the parent company for numerous grocery chains including Vons, announced plans to set aside hours for elderly customers Wednesday.

“We are sensitive to the fact that everyone wants to make sure they have the items they need, and we also know that everyone wants their neighbors to stay safe and healthy, too,” said Vivek Sankaran, the company's President and CEO. “We are asking our customers to respect these special hours for those who are most at risk in our communities. We thank our customers in advance for their compassion and understanding toward their neighbors and friends, and in helping us maintain this temporary operations guideline. At a minimum, the company will reserve every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m. for those vulnerable shoppers who must leave home to obtain their groceries, unless otherwise locally mandated. Customers should check their store's hours if they're opening on a different schedule."

Hospitals are also adjusting their operations to manage the crisis.

Long Beach health officials said the city's 10 total cases do not include a patient who was diagnosed with the virus at the Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System, because the patient is not a Long Beach resident. The hospital confirmed the patient's diagnosis Tuesday, announcing that it will no longer allow visitors in the medical center.

"This is not an easy decision to make, but given the risks to our veterans, their families and our communities, we feel we must," according to the hospital.

County Supervisor Hilda Solis said the county is working to provide additional protection for the homeless in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. As part of that effort, the county plans to extend its winter shelter program -- which normally ends March 31 -- until the end of April.

Solis said it is "more urgent than ever to expand our capacity" to provide housing, noting that there are 7,000 interim housing beds in place, and the county is "working to put thousands more online over the next few weeks and months."

The county is also continuing to evaluate sites that can be used for temporary housing facilities.

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday reviewed a variety of measures aimed at providing services for the homeless in light of the virus. The council approved a temporary measure that will allow the homeless to keep their tents in place during daytime hours. The city normally requires the tents to be taken down during the day.

The city and the county have both issued emergency moratoriums on residential and commercial evictions, providing protections for residents who may be unable to pay their rent on time due to work lost because of widespread business closures.

Under the moratorium, tenants would be given up to six months to repay missed rent.

City and county officials have both insisted they are working to provide financial relief for businesses that have been forced to close because of the virus. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Tuesday announced an $11 million loan program, while county officials said they are working to help businesses apply for emergency loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

"While the Small Business Administration is not at the county level, we will be working with state and federal representatives and our partner agencies," county Supervisor Kathryn Barger said Tuesday. "... We do not want any business to fall through the cracks."

Meanwhile, all Los Angeles County Superior Court courthouses and courtrooms will remain closed to the public until Friday.

Between Friday and April 16, courtrooms will generally remain closed, but with a long list of exceptions for necessary court proceedings, such as restraining order hearings, emergency custody issues, arraignments, criminal preliminary hearings, sentencing hearings and emergency orders "relating to the health and safety of a child."

Jury trials will also be on hold until mid-April.

Ferrer has repeatedly stressed the building threat of "community transmission" of the coronavirus, meaning people are being infected without any known source of exposure. Such transmission often means that patients are being exposed to people who have the illness but are unaware they are infected.

In addition to closing bars and ordering restaurants to eliminate dine- in service, the county has also ordered the closure of all fitness centers, entertainment centers, bowling alleys and movie theaters. Under the order, restaurants are restricted to takeout or delivery service.

The mandate applies to all cities within the county, as well as unincorporated areas. Long Beach and Pasadena, which have their own health departments, have also issued the same requirements.

On Wednesday morning, California health officials reported a total of 598 coronavirus cases statewide and 13 deaths.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.