COVID-19 Now Leading Cause of Death in L.A. County

Health officials in L.A. county reported another 68 deaths due to COVID-19 on Thursday bringing the countywide death toll to 797.

According to Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the county's Director of Public Health, an average of 44 people have died in the county every day since April 12 from the coronavirus, making it the leading cause of death. On average, at least five people die every day from the flu during an normal flu season, with 31 per day die from coronary heart disease.

Dr. Ferrer also reported another 1,081 cases of coronavirus, bringing the countywide total to 17,508. Today's new cases were not the result of a backlog, as had been the case over the last few days of 1,000+ confirmed cases. Part of the increased positive tests are being attributed to the expanded capacity the county has created for testing. Health officials say the county can test up to 12,000 people everyday, but not all spots are filled.

Officials also reminded people today that even as the weather gets nicer, beaches and trailheads remain closed amid safer-at-home orders in the county.

Additionally, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis says she and Supervisor Kathryn Barger are proposing the creation of an Economic Resiliency Task Force that will work in conjunction with health officials and others to develop plans for rebuilding the county's economy and returning to full employment once coronavirus health restrictions begin to lift.

The number of confirmed cases around Southern California include:

  • Los Angeles County: 17,508 cases - 797 deaths
  • Orange County: 1,827 cases - 36 deaths
  • Riverside County: 3,084 cases - 99 deaths
  • Ventura County: 451 cases - 25 deaths
  • San Bernardino County: 1,578 cases - 72 deaths
  • San Diego County: 2,491 cases - 96 deaths

Statewide, there are more than 37,862 cases with at least 1,442 deaths reported. According to data collected by Johns Hopkins University, there are more than 856,209 cases nationwide with the death toll reaching 49,123 by Thursday afternoon.


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