COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles surpass 20,000

Bixby Knolls Towers in Long Beach is among the skilled nursing homes identified by the California Dept. of Health as having confirmed COVID-19 cases among both staff and residents.

"As we have more information about who is dying, we are reminded that the work ahead requires that we address issues of disproportionately that result in higher rates of death among African Americans, [Latino] and Asians as well as residents living in poverty", Ferrer said.

Based on reported cases and available information on race and ethnicity, 37% of deaths occurred among Latino residents, 28% among white residents, 18% among Asian residents, 14% among African American residents, 1% among Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander residents and 1% among residents who identify with other races. Upon further investigation, 11 cases reported earlier were not LA County residents. Testing had previously been reserved only for people showing symptoms of COVID-19, a move that county officials now concede may have fueled the spread of the virus. Testing capacity continues to increase in LA County, with testing results available for over 117,000 individuals and 14% of people testing positive. Ninety-two percent of people who died had underlying health conditions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working to tally the number of health care workers infected with COVID-19 across the country.

The continuing increases in cases and deaths in nursing homes prompted the county's health officer Friday to issue a revised order applicable to all licensed "congregate health care", or long-term care, facilities, Ferrer said. One thousand nine hundred and sixty-eight confirmed cases of COVID-19 occurred among healthcare workers and first responders and about 8% of these cases have been hospitalized.

"These medical support teams are made up of about eight service members and include the lead service member, which is a doctor or a physician's assistant or a registered nurse, and then they are supported by our army or airforce medics", Shiroma said.

Reporter Roundup is a collaboration between PBS SoCal/KCET and KPCC/LAist to bring you the biggest headlines M-F about COVID-19.

"Our data indicate that there are now well over 1,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 amongst the staff of nursing homes, homeless housing sites, and other institutional settings", according to the motion. "Healthcare workers are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, and they put themselves at risk everyday so that we all can receive excellent care".

Neighborhoods where 30 percent to 100 percent live in poverty have experienced 16.5 deaths per 100,000 people from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, in comparison with 5.3 deaths per 100,000 people in communities where less than 10 percent of residents live in poverty, said Barbara Ferrer, director of the county Department of Public Health. They are our heroes. Fifteen had underlying conditions.

Health experts say the best protection against the coronavirus is to wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands without washing.

Additional things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov .