“Although currently we have adequate capacity at our hospitals, and we have extensive plans in place to take appropriate actions to manage these huge increases, a continued surge in cases is just not sustainable,” Los Angeles County Public Health Care Director Barbara Ferrer urged people to take all precautions to stop the spread of the virus that is on the brink of overwhelming hospitals. On Monday, November 30, 2020, Ferrer spoke to offer facts and remind people that everyone is affected.
On Monday the county reported another 5,150 confirmed cases of COVID- 19 and another 17 deaths. The new cases pushed the county over the cumulative 400,000 mark, with the total rising to 401,448. Since the pandemic began, 7,656 people have died due to coronavirus- related causes.
The number of people hospitalized also continues to rise, reaching 2,185 on Monday. The increasing hospital numbers have health officials fearing a possible overwhelming of the health care system if the surge isn’t reversed.
She pointed to continued alarming numbers of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations as necessitating the new restrictions, saying the virus “is running rampant through almost every part of our county.”
The increasing hospital numbers also threaten health care workers. Ferrer announced another 747 cases of COVID-19 among health care workers Monday. “The very frontline workers that we rely on to care for us should we become ill are themselves now at increased risk of becoming sick,” she said.
“Contrary to the sentiments expressed by some, many of these cases could have been prevented if individuals and businesses were following the straightforward public health measures of masking, distancing and infection control,” she said. “As we’re all seeing, when even relatively small numbers of businesses and individuals fail to adhere to sensible precautions, many others experience the consequences of these lapses.”
The county may be headed towards another complete shutdown if numbers continue to rise.
Judith Martin-Straw
Sars Covid or Coronavirus is common cold according to 1986 medical encylopedia.
Mr. Rosen – 1986 was a long, long, long time ago. This is by far the most ignorant comment this site has ever received. Just after I posted it, I spent an hour on the phone consoling another friend who lost a parent to COVID. Your perspective is horrifying.