Story by Adam Kwoh
News Editor
Photo by Oscar Walsh
Photo Editor
The L.A. County Department of Public Health confirmed a total of four coronavirus cases in South Pasadena on Thursday, Mar. 26. The number of confirmed cases has spiked rapidly, with 559 new confirmed cases in L.A. County since Mar. 24.
In the Public Health Department’s Mar. 26 news release, the L.A. County announced 421 new laboratory confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. A total of 243 cases — 21 percent of total positive cases — have been hospitalized. To date, L.A. County has faced 21 deaths due to the respiratory virus’s ability to induce fatal conditions such as pneumonia.
The Public Health Department ordered on Mar. 25 that those who are presumed to be positive for the virus should self-isolate for at least 7 days and 3 days after no longer experiencing symptoms. Furthermore, those who have been in contact with any presumed or positive coronavirus cases must quarantine for 14 days.
“This dramatic increase in cases is due in part to increased testing capacity in LA County which is allowing us to identify more positive cases,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in the county’s news release. “In order to slow the spread and save lives, all of us must do our part by staying home, adhering to all social distancing measures and caring for each other.”
This is an ongoing story. All local coronavirus updates can be found here.