For the second day in a row, Los Angeles County officials reported a significant backlog in positive coronavirus tests, bringing the total number to 15,140, as the death toll reached 663.
While 1,400 new cases were reported Tuesday, 880 of those were from the backlog, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the county’s public health director explained during a daily briefing Tuesday.
She added that a backlog occurs sometimes on weekends, but the delay in reporting could also be due to some labs not submitting cases through the county’s electronic lab system.
Also on Tuesday, officials reported a continuing uptick in coronavirus cases in county institutions, with investigations taking place at 269 facilities.
There are now a total of 2,913 people within these institutions who have tested positive for coronavirus; 1,692 are residents, while 1,221 are staff. Ferrer said 255 people who resided at county facilities have died, and that represents 38% of all coronavirus-related deaths in the county. The majority of those who died lived in assisted living facilities, she said.
This comes as California released data showing that there are 850 coronavirus cases amid residents and staff at assisted living facilities statewide.
Ferrer has said the county is working to address outbreaks at these institutions and has asked for help from the state and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In addition, the county is working to offer coronavirus testing at institutional settings more consistently. That includes testing both symptomatic and asymptomatic residents and staff in these facilities.
County officials have also addressed an outbreak at the Union Rescue Mission in Skid Row. A total of 200 symptomatic and asymptomatic guests at the shelter were tested recently, with 43 people’s results coming back positive, Ferrer said. All were quarantined inside and the shelter is no longer allowing new guests. Staff and guests were asked to practice social distancing while inside and wear face coverings.
In addition, enhanced screenings and deep cleaning are being done at the shelter.
Testing capacity continues to increase countywide, and as of Tuesday, 89,000 people have been tested, with about 14% of results coming back positive, Ferrer said.
As some states announced plans to start reopening businesses as early as this week, local officials said it is crucial for residents in L.A. County to continue to heed the safer at home order, even as it gets warmer, to keep those who are most vulnerable safe.
“We share your desire to have a plan for recovery, and in order for us to be able to safely relax the order, we need to make sure we do this in a way that doesn’t result in a surge of hospitalizations and deaths,” Ferrer said. “We can’t open safely until we protect those who are most vulnerable.”
Supervisor Hilda Solis also urged people to remain home during the ongoing pandemic.
“Now is not the time, just because the weather is improving, and especially not because we’re bending the COVID-19 curve, to visit with friends or gather with a group of people,” she said.”This order remains in place to protect you, your family, your neighbors and our community.”
