Another 81 people in Los Angeles County have died after testing positive for the coronavirus, officials announced Saturday, April 18, the highest single-day jump in fatalities to date.
The total number of deaths related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, has more than doubled over the past week to 576.
Saturday’s tally included two Long Beach deaths and four Pasadena deaths that the cities, which both have their own health departments, reported Friday. It did not include one death Long Beach reported Saturday.
“Today marks a very sad milestone for our county,” LA County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “We are reporting the highest number of COVID-19 deaths for any one day since the beginning of the pandemic, and our deepest condolences go out to each and every person grieving the loss of their loved ones.”
LA County also announced 642 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the overall total so far to 12,021.
Of all of those who have died, 89% had underlying health conditions. The county’s latest available data shows that about 36% of people who died were Latino, 29% were white, 17% were Asian, 16% were African American and 3% identified as another race. (Los Angeles Daily News)
