Hospitalizations increasing for younger demographic as well
By Sam Catanzaro
On Monday county health officials reported almost 50 percent of new COVID-19 cases are occurring among younger people with the most significant increase in the percentage of cases among residents between 18 and 40 years old.
Hospitalizations for individuals between 18 and 40 years old have also increased from a little over 10 percent of hospitalized cases in April to about 25 percent in July, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health)
There are 1,921 people currently hospitalized, 28 percent of these people are confirmed cases in the ICU and 18 percent are confirmed cases on ventilators.
Testing results are available for nearly 1,199,000 individuals, with 9 percent of people testing positive. The seven-day average of the daily positivity rate is 9.5 percent.
In addition, the Understanding America Study that is administered by USC’s Dornsife Center reports that 55.2 percent of LA County residents had close contact (within 6 feet) with people who do not live with them in the last 7 days. This is an increase from the 30.5 percent reported from April 8-14.
“Many families are experiencing the profound grief of losing a loved one to COVID-19. We are so sorry for your loss, and wish you healing and peace,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Thank you to the businesses and individuals that are working so hard to adhere to the protocols we have laid out, which are now more important than ever. Our ability to follow the most basic infection control and distancing directives reduces serious illness, and even death of the people we love, and the death of those loved by others. What we do now determines where we are in 3-4 weeks. The sooner we all recommit to taking care of each other, the sooner we create a new normal, where we get back to work, school, and our friends and extended family.”
On Monday, Public Health confirmed 48 new deaths and 1,584 new cases of COVID-19. To date, Public Health has identified 116,570 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, and a total of 3,534 deaths. In Brentwood there has been 128 cases and two deaths.
