The Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 25 new deaths and 1,379 new cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Fifteen people who died were over the age of 65 years, eight people who died were between the ages of 41 and 65 years old and one person who died was between the ages of 18 and 40. Twenty-two people had underlying health conditions including 14 people over the age of 65 , seven people between the ages of 41 and 65 years old and one person between the ages of 18 and 40.

The City of Glendale reports 980 cases.

Upon further investigation, 34 cases and one death reported earlier were not LA County residents. As of today, 6,514 people who tested positive for COVID-19 (12% of positive cases) have been hospitalized at some point during their illness. There are 1,402 people who are currently hospitalized, 28% of these people are in the ICU and 19% are on ventilators. Testing capacity continues to increase in LA County, with testing results available for over 598,000 individuals and 8% of people testing positive.

“Through these difficult times, we mourn with all of you who have lost someone you love to COVID-19. We are deeply sorry for your loss, and wish you healing and peace,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, director of Public Health. “If you are returning to work or are visiting re-opened spaces and businesses, please remember that the actions we all take today will affect the numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths several weeks from now. This virus has not changed and is still easily transmitted among people in contact with each other. Please continue to take care of each other and use the tools we know work to slow the spread of the virus: wear a face covering and keep 6 feet of distance anytime you are around others not in your household.”

On Friday, May 29, the County of Los Angeles Health Officer revised the County’s Reopening Safer At Work And In the Community for the Control of COVID-19 (Order) to allow for in-person dining at restaurants and the re-opening of hair salons and barbershops. Public Health issued the County’s Protocols for Restaurants Opening for On-site Dining, which are available at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/protocols/Reopening_Restaurants.pdf. 

Public health also issued Protocols for Hair Salons and Barbershops which are available at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/protocols/Reopening_HairSalons_Barbershops.pdf. The Health Officer Order specifically requires businesses to follow the COVID-19 infection control protocols. As such, restaurant and hair salon owners and operators must complete and implement these protocols prior to re-opening. Brewpubs, breweries, bars, pubs, craft distilleries, and wineries that do not offer sit-down, dine-in meals are still required to remain closed.

As the recovery journey continues, more people being around one another may result in more transmission of COVID-19, more cases, and more hospitalizations and deaths. Everyone must continue to follow distancing and infection control directives and wear a clean cloth face covering that securely covers both their nose and mouth when in contact with other people not in their household. Public Health will assess the activities allowed by the Order on an ongoing basis. LA County is in stage two of the five-stage Roadmap to Recovery and until the final stage five is reached, Health Officer Orders and directives will continue to ensure that we slow spread of COVID-19 to prevent an overwhelming surge of COVID-19 cases at healthcare facilities.

The Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, Recovery Dashboard, and additional things you can do to protect themselves, their families and their community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

The best protection against COVID-19 continues to be to wash  hands frequently, avoid touching  eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, self-isolate if  sick, practice physical distancing, and wear a clean face covering when in contact with others from outside your household. People who have underlying health conditions remain at much greater risk for serious illness from COVID-19, so it will continue to be very important for the County’s vulnerable residents to stay at home as much as possible, to have groceries and medicine delivered, and to call their providers immediately if they have even mild symptoms.