A day before Los Angeles County is set to allow businesses in several industries like gyms, day camps, zoos, film production and more, to reopen after forcing them to close to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, officials reported the highest single-day jump of coronavirus cases to date.
LA County public health officials announced 1,857 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, June 11, bringing the total number of positive cases identified in the county as of Thursday to 68,875.
Although the number of new cases reported Thursday was the biggest single-day jump to date, about 600 of them were from a backlog of test results, officials said.
Public health officials also confirmed 46 new deaths, bringing the county’s death toll to 2,813. LA County makes up nearly half of the cases and 58% of deaths in the state.
Of those whose deaths were most recently reported, 32 were older than 65, 27 of whom had underlying health conditions; 13 people between 41 and 65 years old, 12 whom had underlying conditions, and one person between 18 and 40 years old, who had an underlying health condition.
The tally did not include five deaths and 76 cases that were reported in Long Beach, which maintains its own health department, on Thursday. Pasadena reported eight new cases, bringing its total to 1,023, but added no deaths to its total of 84.“Each day, we are thinking of the many people across LA County who have lost loved ones to COVID-19,” the county’s Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “You are in our prayers, and we hope you find healing during this difficult time.”
County public health officials issued a modified health order Thursday, June 11, giving guidelines for more sectors to reopen after being shuttered since March.
On Wednesday, however, new data suggested that COVID-19 transmission will likely increase gradually over time, said Christina Ghaly, director of Health Services for LA County, as physical distancing requirements continue to relax.
The World Health Organization at the start of the week urged countries that have seen improvement in virus spread to remain vigilant. California, meanwhile, placed LA County on a watch list of jurisdictions that could see an increased spread of the coronavirus.
As with every coronavirus related reopening, employees and visitors to those businesses must wear cloth face coverings when around other people and maintain a minimum 6 foot distance.
“Reopening businesses and public spaces safely requires everyone to continue to make physical distancing, wearing cloth face coverings and other infection control practices a part of day-to-day life,” Ferrer said. “We have shown that we can work together on slowing the spread of COVID-19, and we need to continue to do so through our recovery journey to prevent huge increases in cases, hospitalizations and deaths.”
The industries that can reopen Friday, June 12, assuming they meet health safety guidelines, are:
- gyms and fitness facilities;
- pro league arenas without live spectators;
- day camps;
- museums and galleries;
- zoos and aquariums;
- campgrounds and RV parks;
- outdoor recreation, including swimming pools;
- music, film and TV productions; and
- hotels for leisure travel.
