Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].
Currently, one person dies every 10 minutes in Los Angeles County from COVID-19, yet many of these deaths could be prevented by following public health guidelines, as they are the only effective tools at this time.
According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, as of yesterday, 148 new deaths and 13,678 new cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed, representing the second consecutive day in which the highest number of new deaths from the virus has been surpassed.
In a press release, the county explained that there are currently 6,499 people with COVID-19 hospitalized, while 20 percent of them are in the intensive care unit (ICU), which also represents a new historic high.
"We extend our deepest condolences to those in Los Angeles County who have lost a loved one to COVID-19. It is heartbreaking to report that nearly 150 more residents died from this disease, leaving many families grieving this holiday season," said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.
"We need all residents to follow safety measures to stop this surge. This means staying indoors and limiting all non-essential activities. When you must leave your home, always wear face masks, stay away from others and wash your hands frequently," he added.
It is worth mentioning that, of the 148 new deaths reported, 51 people were over 80 years old; 45 were between 65 and 79 years old; 28 people were between 50 and 64 years old; 11 people were between 30 and 49 years old; and one person who died was between 18 and 29 years old.
In the last week, the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 increased by more than 1,600 people; while, to date, 677,299 positive COVID-19 cases are identified in all areas of the county and a total of 9,299 deaths.
Separately, the Public Health Department reported two additional cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), bringing the total number of cases in the county to 51 children, including one infant death. Latino children account for nearly 73 percent of the reported cases.
All 51 children with MIS-C in Los Angeles County were hospitalized and nearly 50 percent were treated in the ICU. Of the children with MIS-C, 31 percent were younger than 5 years old, 38 percent were between 5 and 11 years old, and 31 percent were between 12 and 20 years old.
It should be noted that MIS-C is an inflammatory condition associated with COVID-19 and symptoms include fever that does not go away and swollen body parts, such as heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs.
