Tracking the coronavirus in Los Angeles County
Updated
- Virus transmission in the county is rated as widespread by the governor's reopening regime, which places the area in Tier 1 and keeps schools and most nonessential businesses closed.
- Over the past seven days, the county has reported an average of 3,573.3 new cases per day, a 92.1% increase from two weeks ago. Over that same period, there have been 24.1 deaths per day.
- The number of hospitalizations is growing. There are now 1,473 patients with a confirmed case, an increase from fourteen days ago.
- North Lancaster has the highest concentration of new cases with 41 reported per 100,000 residents over the last two weeks.
The latest trends
The L.A. County Department of Public Health announces new cases and deaths each day, as do the independent agencies governing Long Beach and Pasadena. Not all of the agencies provide a tally of how many people have recovered from COVID-19.
Though bottlenecks in testing and reporting lags can introduce delays, the latest numbers appear here as soon as all three agencies have reported. So far today, one of the three local departments have released new numbers.
Over the past week, the county has averaged 3,573 new cases and 24.1 new deaths per day. The number of confirmed infections is currently doubling every 68.7 days.
State and local officials are closely watching the latest figures as they weigh when and how to reopen. Over the last seven days, officials have reported 25,013 new cases, which amounts to 248 per 100,000 residents.
Track outbreaks in California nursing homes
Follow the data and look up the latest tallies at the hundreds of skilled-nursing and assisted-living facilities across the state.
Mapping the cases
The county has provided case count for 333 cities, neighborhoods and unincorporated areas.
Cases per 100,000 residents over the last 14 days
Track cases across the state
Explore the latest data statewide by visiting our comprehensive dashboard.
Hospitals and patients
Lockdown measures aim to slow the virus in hope of preventing hospitals from being overrun.
To keep tabs on capacity, officials watch out for rapid increases in the number of confirmed COVID-19 patients.
There are now 1,473 patients admitted to county hospitals with a confirmed case of COVID-19, according to the latest figures from the state. Of those, 391 are in an intensive-care unit.
Officials also closely monitor the number of beds open in intensive-care units. In late July, the state changed its tracking method to exclude beds that are only for infants from the count.
There are currently 647 staffed and available beds in Los Angeles County according to the latest government data.
Nursing homes
Nursing homes have become a tragic focal point of the coronavirus outbreak. California's Department of Public Health has listed 486 skilled nursing and assisted-living facilities in Los Angeles County that have reported COVID-19 cases.
The state last updated the list on November 20. Officials withhold the precise number where there are 10 or fewer cases. The numbers reflect cumulative counts.Lives lost to COVID-19
Learn more about those we've lost by reading Times obituaries of Californians who have died from coronavirus.
Reopenings and restrictions
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s reopening system classifies counties into four tiers based on metrics developed by state officials. Which tier a county falls in determines what can be reopened.
Los Angeles County is currently in Tier 1, which keeps schools and most nonessential businesses closed.
Tier 1
Widespread
Most nonessential indoor business operations are closed
Tier 2
Substantial
Some nonessential indoor business operations are closed
Tier 3
Moderate
Some business operations can open with modifications
Tier 4
Minimal
Most business operations can open with modifications
The state is now using three statistics to judge counties. With some exceptions, metrics must surpass the benchmark for the next tier in order to loosen restrictions. The latest numbers, along with tier reassignments, are released each Tuesday.
The first is called the adjusted case rate. It takes new cases in a recent seven-day period — excluding cases at prisons and jails — and adjusts for population. In some areas, that number is modified to account for the volume of testing. Los Angeles County's most recent adjusted case rate was 13.7.
The second metric is the positive test rate, which is the percentage of tests for the virus that come back positive. Los Angeles County's most recent positive test rate was 5.3%.
The third metric measures whether positive tests in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods have significantly exceeded a county's overall rate — a disparity that's been widespread during the pandemic. The statistic is known as the Healthy Places Index. Citing the strain of the recent surge in cases, the state has paused its use.
Based on its current tier in the state framework, here’s what is allowed to open in Los Angeles County.
Tier 1: Widespread risk
- Aquariums Open outdoors only with modifications
- Bars, brewpubs and distilleries (with no meals provided) Closed
- Cardrooms Open outdoors only with maximum 50% customers, according to a more restrictive county order
- Carwashes Open with modifications
- Child care Open with modifications
- Concert venues Closed
- Day camps Open with modifications
- Dine-in restaurants Open outdoors only with modifications. Closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., according to a more restrictive county order
- Family entertainment Open outdoors only with modifications for kart racing, mini-golf, batting cages
- Food banks, gas stations and convenience stores Open with modifications
- Gyms Open outdoors only with modifications
- Hair salons and barbershops Open indoor with modifications with max 25% capacity, according to a more restrictive county order
- Higher education Closed for indoor lectures and student gatherings. Some courses conducted in certain indoor settings, like labs and studio arts, may be open
- Hotels for tourism and individual travel Open with modifications
- K-12 schools Campuses can reopen or remain open under a waiver for in-person instruction for transitional kindergarten through second grade. Schools also can bring back up to 25% of enrollment to serve students who are learning English or who have other special needs. In-person services vary from school to school.
- Libraries Open with modifications. Max 25% capacity
- Movie theaters Open outdoors only with modifications
- Museums Open outdoors only with modifications
- Nail salons Open indoors at 25% capacity, according to a more restrictive county order
- Nonessential business offices Work remotely
- Pet groomers and landscapers Open with modifications
- Places of worship and cultural ceremonies Open outdoors only with modifications
- Professional sports without spectators Open without live audiences with modifications
- Racetracks without spectators Open outdoors only with modifications
- Retailers Open with modifications. Max 25% capacity. Closed from 10 pm to 6 am, according to a more restrictive county order
- Shopping malls Open indoors with modifications. Max 25% capacity. Closed common areas, food courts. Closed from 10 pm to 6 am, according to a more restrictive county order
- State and local government Open with modifications
- Takeout restaurants Open with modification
- Tattoo parlors Open indoors with modifications
- Theme parks Closed
- Wineries Open outdoors with max 50% capacity. Closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., according to a more restrictive county order
- Zoos Open outdoors only with modifications
What's open where?
See how the governor has rated all 58 counties, and what that means for reopening, in our county reopening tracker.
Unemployment
Shutdown orders have closed businesses and put thousands out of work. As parts of the economy reopen, some people have regained employment, though many remain jobless. The unemployment rate in Los Angeles County is 15.3%, higher than the state average.
How the pandemic has affected California jobs
Find the sectors of the economy hit hardest by coronavirus shutdowns in our unemployment tracker.