Los Angeles County Coronavirus Update: Public Health Officials Report Almost 9,000 New Cases As SoCal ICU Capacity Dips Under 15%

Angelina Jolie was photographed braving the Grove with her daughter Zahara Jolie-Pitt in Los Angeles yesterday. For the outing, the actress stuck to her signature color of black, wrapping up in an oversized wool coat and knee-high leather boots.

Los Angeles County reversed its ban against indoor religious services just days before Christmas following a Supreme Court ruling that sided with a southern California church that challenged the state’s coronavirus restrictions on places of worship.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a new tool that would help L.A. County residents be more cautious amid the dark periods of the coronavirus pandemic.

Los Angeles County reached yet another grim milestone on Saturday as Public Health officials reported more than 600,000 total cases of Covid-19. To date the county has recorded a total of 610,372 coronavirus cases.

Under assault by the rising surge in COVID-19 cases, available space continued to dwindle on Friday at Los Angeles County hospitals. As a result, health-care professionals were imploring the public to take the virus seriously to prevent medical centers from being overrun and unable to care for patients.

“I want to be clear: Our hospitals are under siege and there is no end in sight,” said Los Angeles County’s Director of Health Services, Dr. Christina Gahly. “Unless we remain more vigilant and more diligent through the holidays and beyond, we will not be able to stop the surge.”

As the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine was delivered at a Los Angeles-area hospital, the county’s hospital and ICU capacity dropped to alarming lows.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is pleading with Los Angeles County residents to adhere to the COVID-19 health protocols as the department confirmed 70 new deaths and 11,476 new cases Saturday. The bottom-line message is to stay home.

Los Angeles County proceeds into its darkest moment of the coronavirus pandemic yet as Public Health officials report 11,476 new cases on Saturday. While the latest count of new Covid-19 cases may be smaller than that of Friday and Thursday, Los Angeles County is far from in the clear as transmission rates soar beyond November levels.

“I again want to sound an alarm that we’ve been sounding for the last month,” said Los Angeles Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

“The worst is not behind us,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Thursday. “The worst is right in front of us.”

A top health official in Los Angeles, Calif., fought back tears when speaking of the impact the novel coronavirus has had on the community.  Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the Los Angeles County's public health director, during a Wednesday news conference held back tears as she discussed the high number of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths in L.A.  “Over 8,000 people who were beloved members of their families are not coming back,” she said while appearing to hold back emotion.

Los Angeles County deputies on Saturday busted an “underground” illicit super-spreader event that resulted in nearly 160 arrests and the rescue of an underage human trafficking victim, authorities said on Tuesday.

The day after Los Angeles County’s number of new cases topped 10,000 for the first time, state and local officials warned about the status of the region’s health care system.

A Los Angeles County supervisor got an earful of complaints Saturday from protesters who are upset about the county’s ban on outdoor dining as coronavirus numbers climb. The group targeted Supervisor Sheila Kuehl outside her Santa Monica home because she was recently caught dining outdoors at a nearby restaurant after voting in favor of the ban – which most bar and restaurant owners and employees in the county oppose, saying it threatens their ability to earn a living.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported on Friday the highest number of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations ever in a day with 8,860 new cases and 2,668 people hospitalized.

“Today, Tuesday, December 1, 2020, is the worst day thus far of the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles County,” said county health director Barbara Ferrer. “However, it will likely not remain the worst day of the pandemic in Los Angeles County. That will be tomorrow, and the next day and the next as cases, hospitalizations and deaths increase.” The numbers validate Ferrer’s grim words.

Roughly 50 people gathered outside the home of Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer on Sunday to protest the start of new coronavirus restrictions. The protesters called for the reopening of L.A., as tightened restrictions that prohibited gatherings and severely limited capacity at most retail establishments were set to take effect on Monday.

“We expect unfortunately, as we go into the next couple of weeks into December, that we might see a surge superimposed on top of the surge that we’re already in.” That was Dr. Anthony Fauci on Meet the Press this past Sunday. See a clip of Fauci’s comments below.

Los Angeles County announced a new stay-home order Friday as coronavirus cases surge out of control in the nation’s most populous county. The three-week order takes effect Monday.