Coronavirus Slams LA Nursing Homes As County Toll Tops 4,566

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles County identified 521 more cases of coronavirus, and 11 more deaths over the last 24 hours, a set of numbers that have held relatively steady over the last few days. But it won't last. The county's top health official warned of dark days ahead and called on grocery stores to adopt additional measures such as free deliveries for the elderly, to protect the most vulnerable employees and customers.

The next couple weeks will be an intense period in the coronavirus pandemic in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County has ramped up testing, and is very likely to begin identifying 1,000 new cases per day as early as next week, said Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Public Health Department. Health officials said the number of cases has held steady in recent days, a sign that social distancing is working.

"What has happened here is pretty much what we expected here in Los Angeles," Ferrer said. "The last week, we have really seen a doubling of cases every six days, and that is really good news."

But with the spread of the virus and an increase in testing, those numbers are quickly going to get worse, warned Ferrer.

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"We want to be prepared for that," she said. "I think that it's very accurate that at some point next week we will start reporting that big an increase in the number of cases, because thankfully we're able to actually test more people and make sure that people who are tested have the opportunity, if they are positive, to isolate themselves and not infect others and identify their close contacts, who will quarantine themselves and also not potentially infect others."

"So this is what it means for all of us here in L.A. County: The next few weeks are going to be critically important because we are going to see more cases of people who are positive with COVID-19. But it's our hope that the rate increase continues to be manageable and that we don't overwhelm our health care system. And I think that in part depends on all of you."

So far L.A. County has seen 4,566 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 89 of them fatal. Of the 89 deaths that have occurred in the county, 78 percent of the patients were over age 65, according to Ferrer. The mortality rate in Los Angeles has been 1.9 percent, which is better than in many parts of the world.

"The mortality rate across the world stands at a staggering 5 percent," Ferrer said.

Of the 11 deaths reported in Los Angeles County over the last 24 hours, seven were older than 65, one was younger than 40, and three were between the ages of 18 and 40. Nine of the dead had underlying health conditions, including the youngest victim, Ferrer said.

About 22 percent of all confirmed cases in Los Angeles County have resulted in hospitalizations. That's 1,018 so far. If this rate continues, Los Angeles hospitals could be overwhelmed in the coming weeks. The 1,000-bed Navy ship hospital the Mercy has docked in the port of LA to take in non-coronavirus patients, but so far, the floating hospital has taken on very few patients.

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The spread of the disease has begun making its way through the county's nursing homes, treatment facilities and jails. Currently, county health officials are investigating outbreaks in 67 institutional settings where 321 staff members and residents have been sickened.

Ferrer issued a particular plea to grocery stores, asking them to find ways to deliver groceries to their elderly customers and adopt measures to protect older workers as the outbreak spreads.

The ability of the virus to spread even before patients develop symptoms has led to increasing recommendations that residents wear some type of non-surgical mask or face covering when they go out in public. Ferrer and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti have both touted the benefits of covering their faces to prevent a spread of droplets that can spread the virus from falling on surfaces or on other people.

Officials continued to stress that residents do not purchase hospital- grade mask, which are in short supply and desperately needed in hospitals.

Ferrer said people can use scarves or other fabric, suggesting that people go online for instructions on how to fashion a homemade mask.

Ferrer again noted that wearing such a face-covering does not free people from the need to remain at home as much as possible and practice social-distancing and hand-washing.

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.