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313 N. Figueroa Street, Room 806  |  Los Angeles, CA 90012  |  (213) 240-8144  |  media@ph.lacounty.gov

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For Immediate Release:

October 20, 2020

Public Health Urges Businesses to Comply with Health Officer Order Protocols - Los Angeles County Reports 39 New Deaths and 713 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 39 new deaths and 713 new cases of COVID-19. The low number of new cases reported today reflects technical issues with data reporting systems.

To date, Public Health identified 290,009 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 6,912 deaths.

Testing results are available for more than 2,913,000 individuals with 9% of all people testing positive. There are 730 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 30% of these people in the ICU.

This past weekend, Public Health inspectors visited a total of 437 businesses, including restaurants, markets, hair salons and barbershops, hotels and gyms. Inspectors noted that almost half of businesses had not posted their completed protocols for reopening and gyms need to improve on ensuring their employees and patrons are wearing a face covering. Overall, the compliance inspections revealed the majority of businesses were in compliance with most of the Public Health protocols. Because COVID-19 is still spreading throughout L.A. County, businesses have a duty to protect employees, customers and residents from transmission of COVID-19 as much as possible and implement all requirements in the business protocols that prevent COVID-19 transmission.

Public Health encourages L.A. County businesses to take advantage of the COVID-19 Safety Compliance Certification Program. The COVID-19 Safety Compliance Certification Program offers business owners and employees the opportunity to participate in a free training program about COVID-19 infection control protocols and allows businesses to self-certify that they are fully implementing the protocols in compliance with infection control and physical distancing requirements. To date, 3,176 employers and 2,888 employees have completed the training.

“Our hearts go out to all the families and friends who are grieving a loved one lost to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. "The more we gather with people we don't live with, the more we don't use the tools we have to slow the spread of the virus when out and about, the more the risk of being exposed to COVID-19 and the more the likelihood we see more COVID-19 cases. L.A. County remains in Tier 1 on the State's Blueprint for a Safer Economy indicating that community transmission is widespread. Continuing our recovery journey requires that each of us make choices that minimize exposing ourselves and others to this deadly virus."

Of the 39 new deaths reported today, 19 people that passed away were over the age of 80 years old, 12 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79 years old, six people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64 years old, and two people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49 years old. Thirty people who died had underlying health conditions including 14 people over the age of 80, 10 people between the ages of 65 and 79 years old, five people between the ages of 50 and 64 years old, and one person between the ages of 30 and 40 years old.

Ninety-three percent of the people who died from COVID-19 had underlying health conditions. Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 6,504 people (99 percent of the cases reported by Public Health); 51% of deaths occurred among Latino/Latinx residents, 23% among White residents, 14% among Asian residents, 10% among African American/Black residents, less than 1% among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents and 1% among residents identifying with other races. Upon further investigation, 70 cases and four deaths reported earlier were not L.A. County residents.

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

Please see additional information below:

Laboratory Confirmed Total Cases 290009 *

Deaths 6912

Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

Hospitalization

Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

CITY / COMMUNITY (Rate**)

These numbers are subject to change based on further investigation. 70 cases and four deaths previously reported were not in Public Health's jurisdiction. * Means that case numbers include cases associated with correctional facility outbreaks located in the city/community. **Rate is crude and is per 100,000. This represents the number of cases per 100,000 people and allows for the proportional comparison of cities of different sizes.

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

The Department of Public Health is committed to promoting health equity and ensuring optimal health and well-being for all 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health comprises nearly 4,500 employees and has an annual budget of $1.2 billion. To learn more about Los Angeles County Public Health, please visit www.publichealth .lacounty.gov, and follow LA County Public Health on social media at twitter.com/lacounty.gov, and follow LA County Public Health on social media at twitter.com/lapublichealth, facebook.com/lapublichealth, instagram.com/lapublichealth and youtube.com/lapublichealth.




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