Los Angeles County reported the death of a child due to the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, marking the first time a person under the age of 18 has succumbed to COVID-19 in the US.
The number of coronavirus cases in the state of California has skyrocketed to more than 2,200 as cities on the West Coast scramble to enforce lockdowns, manufacture medical supplies, procure hospital beds and slow the spread of COVID-19.
Mail Online reports: “Los Angeles County reported four additional deaths related to the coronavirus, bringing the county total to 11 on Tuesday. Officials confirmed an additional 128 cases, bringing the county’s total to 662.
“One of those deaths included the minor who lived in Lancaster, but further details of their identity was not shared.”
Dr Barbara Ferrer, Director of LA County Department of Public health, said during a news conference: “The child’s death is a devastating reminder that COVID-19 infects people of all ages.”
Meanwhile, in San Francisco, the first city in the US to go on lockdown, officials warn “the worst is yet to come” and a surge in cases is expected within a week or two.
San Francisco has recorded 131 cases and no deaths, in Santa Clara there are 321 cases and 13 deaths related to the virus.
Statewide there are over 2,220 confirmed cases and there have been 49 deaths.
In total LA County reports 662 COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths.
“Despite the unfolding crisis, crowds of bold locals have continued to gather at public beaches and parks across the state in defiance of warnings to stay at home,” the report added.
“Governor Gavin Newsom mandated a statewide shelter-in-place order on Thursday March 19, following the steps of Bay Area leaders.
“LA County is also bracing for the worst as their case numbers rise with alarming speed.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, on March 6, there were five people in the county hospitalized with the novel coronavirus.
“Two weeks later that number had jumped to 48. By Monday, the total had climbed to 90.
“And it’s not just the elderly who are getting sick with COVID-19. In Los Angeles County 80 percent of the cases involve patients between the ages of 18 to 65 and 42 percent are in the 18 to 40 age group.
“San Francisco has taken great measures to slow the spread of the virus.
“A shelter in place order was placed in the city on Tuesday March 17 that will last until April 7 in an effort to contain the contagious virus. Under the shelter in place orders residents must remain indoors except to get groceries and medicine.”
Venice Beach was also ordered to close to stop coronavirus spread.
“The order affects some 6.7million people. Under a full lockdown order people would be further enforced to stay home and require government permission to leave their homes.
“However, residents have continued to gather in great numbers in public, prodding San Francisco Mayor London Breed to close down playgrounds and threatened to close other public spaces.”
Meanwhile, San Francisco has “banned practically all visitors to hospitals and long-term facilities and cancelled elective surgeries and routine medical visits”.
“Los Angeles County has similarly shut down Laguna Beach to stop revelers from gathering.
“Los Angeles County is seeing a rise in coronavirus cases and is bracing for a wave of extremely sick patients.
“On Monday, Gov. Newsom said the state needs an additional 50,000 hospital beds to respond to the outbreak. The Democratic governor said the state’s 416 hospitals were doubling so-called surge plans to 40 percent of their capacity.
“The Democratic governor said the state’s 416 hospitals were doubling so-called surge plans to 40 percent of their capacity.
“The hospital system alone will provide 30,000 beds in its plan to tackle the surge of COVID-19 cases.
“The state is also expanding production efforts to manufacture 1 billion globes, 500 million N-95 masks and 200 million shields.
“On Monday, the California National Guard said it would be deployed across the state for humanitarian purposes to distribute food and medical supplies and help with food banks and aid officials on the Grand Princess cruise ship.”
The Navy hospital ship Mercy, which is based in San Diego, has also been deployed to Los Angeles to “relieve the burden from local hospitals treating COVID-19 patients and take in patients suffering from other medical issues”.
“Compared to the rest of the country California has the fourth largest concentrations of COVID-19 behind New York, New Jersey and Washington state.”
- Top Feature Photo Dr Barbara Ferrer, director of LA County Department of Public Health, said during a Tuesday press conference
