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Press Release: Public Health Announces First Confirmed Case of U.K. Coronavirus Variant as Los Angeles County Surpasses 1 Million Total Cases

County of Los Angeles, California sent this bulletin at 01/16/2021 02:01 PM PST

Media Contact: media@ph.lacounty.gov - (213) 240-8144

For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2021

Public Health Announces First Confirmed Case of U.K. Coronavirus Variant as Los Angeles County Surpasses 1 Million Total Cases

253 New Deaths and 14,669 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, the same variant discovered in the United Kingdom (U.K.), in an individual who recently spent time in Los Angeles County. The individual is a male who traveled to Oregon, where he is currently isolating. The variant was confirmed by Quest Laboratories in Washington state.

Today, Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 253 new deaths and 14,669 new cases of confirmed COVID-19. To date, Public Health has identified 1,003,923 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 13,741 deaths.

Although this is the first confirmed case of the U.K. variant in Los Angeles County, Public Health believes that it is already spreading in the community. Public Health is continuing to test samples. Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. Sometimes new variants emerge and disappear. Other times, new variants emerge and persist. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented in the United States and globally during this pandemic.

In the U.K., the variant B.1.1.7 emerged with an unusually large number of mutations. The variant spreads more easily and quickly than other variants. Currently, there is no evidence that it causes more severe illness or increased risk of death. This variant was first detected in September 2020 and is now highly prevalent in London and Southeast England. It has since been detected in numerous countries around the world, including the United States and Canada. The Centers for Disease Control conducts routine analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequence data to support public health response. The DPH lab is also regularly analyzing specimens for variants, including the U.K. variant, and, to date, has not identified other cases linked to this specific variant.

Presence of the U.K. variant in Los Angeles County means virus transmission can happen more easily and residents must more diligently follow the safety measures put in place to prevent additional cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. This includes wearing a face covering properly over your nose and mouth, physically distancing, and not gathering with people from outside your household. With community transmission at an all-time high, staying home as much as possible is the best protection. The same strategies that we’ve been using to help slow COVID-19 will only be effective in slowing spread of the U.K. variant strain of COVID-19 if they are used by everyone all of the time.

Individuals infected with the U.K. variant will test positive for COVID-19 with current SARS-CoV-2 tests. However, to distinguish the variant strain from the traditional strain, laboratories can perform look for certain gene patterns and report to the local public health department for confirmation.

“To the many families who are grieving the tragic loss of a loved one to COVID-19, we mourn with you and wish you healing and peace in the days and months ahead,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “The presence of the U.K. variant in Los Angeles County is troubling, as our healthcare system is already severely strained with more than 7,500 people currently hospitalized. Our community is bearing the brunt of the winter surge, experiencing huge numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths, five-times what we experienced over the summer. This more contagious variant makes it easier for infections to spread at worksites, at stores, and in our homes. We are in the midst of a public health emergency so please do everything you can to protect yourselves and those you love. If you are required to work outside your home, make sure that your workplace adheres to all the mandatory safety directives; there should be no crowding anywhere, protective gear and face coverings provided as required, and infection control measures fully implemented. For those who can, this is the time to stay away from all non-household members, and, when you must be around others, to always keep your distance and wear a face covering. Wash your hands every hour and wipe down frequently touched surfaces multiple times a day. We need to use the tools at hand to keep each other from becoming infected.”

The Board of Supervisors and Public Health meet regularly to discuss the response to COVID-19 in L.A. County. At this time, the current Safer at Home Health Officer Order (HOO) remains in effect with no changes. Public Health teams continue inspecting establishments and ensuring compliance with safety measures in the HOO including metering and occupancy requirements.

There are currently 7,597 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19, and 22% of these people are in the ICU.

Of the 238 deaths reported today (not including Long Beach), 81 people that passed away were over the age of 80 years old, 92 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79 years old, 49 people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64 years old, 12 people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49 years old and four people that died was between the ages of 18 and 29 years old. Of the deaths reported today, 198 deaths were people with underlying health conditions, including 66 people who were over the age of 80 years old, 81 people who were between the ages of 65 and 79 years old, 39 people between the ages of 50 and 64 years old, nine people between the ages of 30 and 49 years old and three people between the ages of 18 and 29 years old. Fourteen deaths were reported by the city of Long Beach and one death reported by the city of Pasadena.

Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 12,895 people; 52% of deaths occurred among Latino/Latinx residents, 24% among White residents, 14% among Asian residents, 9% among African American/Black residents, less than 1% among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents and 2% among residents identifying with other races. Upon further investigation, 315 cases and three deaths reported earlier were not L.A. County residents.

Testing results are available for more than 5,190,051 individuals with 18% of all people testing positive. Upon further investigation, 674 cases and one death reported earlier were not L.A. County residents.

The Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, Recovery Dashboard, and additional things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

Please see additional information below:

	Total Cases	NEW
Laboratory Confirmed Cases	1003923	14669
-- Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)*	951997	13965
-- Long Beach	42888	607
-- Pasadena	9038	97
Deaths	13741	253
-- Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)	13031	238
-- Long Beach	520	14
-- Pasadena	190	1
Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- 0 to 4	18559
- 5 to 11	45101
- 12 to 17	56224
- 18 to 29	228506
- 30 to 49	319468
- 50 to 64	181246
- 65 to 79	71002
- over 80	25844
- Under Investigation	6047
Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- Female	482579
- Male	450138
- Other	364
- Under Investigation	18916
Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- American Indian/Alaska Native	1648
- Asian	39231
- Black	31992
- Hispanic/Latino	440702
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	3671
- White	91780
- Other	98970
- Under Investigation	244003
Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- Hospitalized (Ever)	50351
Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- American Indian/Alaska Native	24
- Asian	1766
- Black	1108
- Hispanic/Latino	6668
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	58
- White	3046
- Other	225
- Under Investigation	136
CITY / COMMUNITY**	Cases	Case Rate
City of Agoura Hills	761	3644
City of Alhambra	5531	6378
City of Arcadia	2118	3667
City of Artesia	1644	9789
City of Avalon	9	233
City of Azusa	5222	10436
City of Baldwin Park	11018	14352
City of Bell	5565	15317
City of Bell Gardens	6975	16194
City of Bellflower	8761	11270
City of Beverly Hills	2029	5878
City of Bradbury	32	2993
City of Burbank	6718	6268
City of Calabasas	892	3667
City of Carson	7257	7733
City of Cerritos	2314	4622
City of Claremont	1811	4964
City of Commerce*	2107	16122
City of Compton	13870	13883
City of Covina	5281	10771
City of Cudahy	3975	16326
City of Culver City	1693	4247
City of Diamond Bar	2532	4402
City of Downey	14681	12848
City of Duarte	1872	8503
City of El Monte	14326	12216
City of El Segundo	515	3068
City of Gardena	4951	8075
City of Glendale	14779	7157
City of Glendora	3843	7283
City of Hawaiian Gardens	1873	12762
City of Hawthorne	8075	9095
City of Hermosa Beach	745	3787
City of Hidden Hills	60	3175
City of Huntington Park	9576	16098
City of Industry	122	27918
City of Inglewood	10711	9430
City of Irwindale	213	14599
City of La Canada Flintridge	606	2929
City of La Habra Heights	91	1668
City of La Mirada	3407	6869
City of La Puente	5590	13736
City of La Verne	2241	6733
City of Lakewood	5731	7131
City of Lancaster*	17391	10764
City of Lawndale	2734	8134
City of Lomita	1045	5041
City of Lynwood*	11103	15411
City of Malibu	277	2137
City of Manhattan Beach	980	2722
City of Maywood	4370	15580
City of Monrovia	2558	6593
City of Montebello	8550	13282
City of Monterey Park	3833	6156
City of Norwalk	13212	12276
City of Palmdale	19723	12407
City of Palos Verdes Estates	277	2049
City of Paramount	8329	14867
City of Pico Rivera	9313	14487
City of Pomona	20461	13122
City of Rancho Palos Verdes	1001	2342
City of Redondo Beach	2048	2981
City of Rolling Hills	34	1753
City of Rolling Hills Estates	186	2293
City of Rosemead	3838	6934
City of San Dimas*	2483	7194
City of San Fernando	4203	17077
City of San Gabriel	2561	6253
City of San Marino	312	2350
City of Santa Clarita	15512	7037
City of Santa Fe Springs	2268	12350
City of Santa Monica	3521	3809
City of Sierra Madre	372	3385
City of Signal Hill	928	7866
City of South El Monte	2867	13728
City of South Gate	15625	15919
City of South Pasadena	1068	4099
City of Temple City	1904	5223
City of Torrance	5346	3581
City of Vernon	106	50718
City of Walnut	1381	4523
City of West Covina	10511	9711
City of West Hollywood	1725	4668
City of Westlake Village	81	969
City of Whittier	9139	10453
Los Angeles	406122	10041
Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie	944	11509
Los Angeles - Alsace	1303	10470
Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest	5	12500
Los Angeles - Angelino Heights	221	8833
Los Angeles - Arleta	5736	16689
Los Angeles - Atwater Village	1134	7732
Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills	2194	7049
Los Angeles - Bel Air	309	3666
Los Angeles - Beverly Crest	487	3888
Los Angeles - Beverlywood	672	5101
Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*	14932	17186
Los Angeles - Brentwood	1148	3709
Los Angeles - Brookside	24	4131
Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning	562	7892
Los Angeles - Canoga Park	7506	11497
Los Angeles - Carthay	760	5291
Los Angeles - Central	6435	16503
Los Angeles - Century City	460	3596
Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove	5222	15465
Los Angeles - Chatsworth	2906	7841
Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills	351	3827
Los Angeles - Chinatown	592	7381
Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran	1292	8878
Los Angeles - Country Club Park	1237	8163
Los Angeles - Crenshaw District	1171	8468
Los Angeles - Crestview	781	6870
Los Angeles - Del Rey	1605	5361
Los Angeles - Downtown*	3009	10939
Los Angeles - Eagle Rock	3025	7641
Los Angeles - East Hollywood	2607	8902
Los Angeles - Echo Park	1112	7800
Los Angeles - El Sereno	5214	12471
Los Angeles - Elysian Park	416	7283
Los Angeles - Elysian Valley	1108	10894
Los Angeles - Encino	2604	5765
Los Angeles - Exposition	288	8659
Los Angeles - Exposition Park	5088	11328
Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights	186	5167
Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square	1149	13175
Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone	7868	16583
Los Angeles - Glassell Park	2807	8882
Los Angeles - Gramercy Place	1059	9838
Los Angeles - Granada Hills	5163	8873
Los Angeles - Green Meadows	3284	15271
Los Angeles - Hancock Park	816	4789
Los Angeles - Harbor City	1861	6402
Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway	3868	8872
Los Angeles - Harbor Pines	132	5479
Los Angeles - Harvard Heights	2092	11600
Los Angeles - Harvard Park	5929	15629
Los Angeles - Highland Park	4815	9950
Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown	1720	12401
Los Angeles - Hollywood	4220	6183
Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills	1139	3870
Los Angeles - Hyde Park	2972	10413
Los Angeles - Jefferson Park	956	11842
Los Angeles - Koreatown	4397	8506
Los Angeles - Lafayette Square	445	9761
Los Angeles - Lake Balboa	4326	10250
Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace	1912	14559
Los Angeles - Leimert Park	1226	8047
Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights	4313	13231
Los Angeles - Little Armenia	946	11788
Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh	2183	7702
Los Angeles - Little Tokyo	338	10788
Los Angeles - Longwood	474	11013
Los Angeles - Los Feliz	829	3837
Los Angeles - Manchester Square	742	8693
Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon	99	3169
Los Angeles - Mar Vista	1554	3659
Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula	113	2592
Los Angeles - Melrose	6507	8375
Los Angeles - Mid-city	948	6307
Los Angeles - Miracle Mile	713	3964
Los Angeles - Mission Hills	3502	14517
Los Angeles - Mt. Washington	2405	9961
Los Angeles - North Hills	7553	12266
Los Angeles - North Hollywood	16422	10845
Los Angeles - Northridge	5871	8412
Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades	589	2766
Los Angeles - Pacoima	14203	18450
Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands	112	2912
Los Angeles - Palms	2055	4684
Los Angeles - Panorama City	11057	14694
Los Angeles - Park La Brea	457	3365
Los Angeles - Pico-Union	5944	14206
Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey	81	2534
Los Angeles - Playa Vista	449	4102
Los Angeles - Porter Ranch	1960	5507
Los Angeles - Rancho Park	265	4040
Los Angeles - Regent Square	193	6942
Los Angeles - Reseda	9308	12149
Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch	530	11432
Los Angeles - Reynier Village	192	4541
Los Angeles - San Pedro*	5509	7059
Los Angeles - Shadow Hills	295	6641
Los Angeles - Sherman Oaks	4479	5133
Los Angeles - Silverlake	2545	5773
Los Angeles - South Carthay	563	5314
Los Angeles - South Park	6302	16601
Los Angeles - St Elmo Village	499	10886
Los Angeles - Studio City	1024	4563
Los Angeles - Sun Valley	7571	14426
Los Angeles - Sunland	1769	8668
Los Angeles - Sycamore Square	25	3864
Los Angeles - Sylmar*	13074	15867
Los Angeles - Tarzana	2588	8382
Los Angeles - Temple-Beaudry	4178	10582
Los Angeles - Thai Town	680	6932
Los Angeles - Toluca Lake	385	4423
Los Angeles - Toluca Terrace	106	8116
Los Angeles - Toluca Woods	83	4467
Los Angeles - Tujunga	2146	7717
Los Angeles - University Hills	222	6474
Los Angeles - University Park	2714	9885
Los Angeles - Valley Glen	3023	10071
Los Angeles - Valley Village	1608	6505
Los Angeles - Van Nuys*	11948	12821
Los Angeles - Venice	1205	3556
Los Angeles - Vermont Knolls	2373	13797
Los Angeles - Vermont Square	1221	15946
Los Angeles - Vermont Vista	6226	15117
Los Angeles - Vernon Central	9484	18239
Los Angeles - Victoria Park	880	10477
Los Angeles - View Heights	197	5333
Los Angeles - Watts	6252	14651
Los Angeles - Wellington Square	470	9563
Los Angeles - West Adams	3280	11871
Los Angeles - West Hills	2333	5754
Los Angeles - West Los Angeles	1840	4889
Los Angeles - West Vernon	8490	15827
Los Angeles - Westchester	1740	3372
Los Angeles - Westlake	6444	10857
Los Angeles - Westwood	1935	3576
Los Angeles - Wholesale District*	5375	14877
Los Angeles - Wilmington	6547	11590
Los Angeles - Wilshire Center	4295	8561
Los Angeles - Winnetka	5360	10350
Los Angeles - Woodland Hills	3730	5481
Unincorporated - Acton	358	4491
Unincorporated - Agua Dulce	180	4329
Unincorporated - Altadena	2618	6002
Unincorporated - Anaverde	119	7891
Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest	21	1687
Unincorporated - Arcadia	478	5989
Unincorporated - Athens-Westmont	5185	12217
Unincorporated - Athens Village	915	18685
Unincorporated - Avocado Heights	922	13609
Unincorporated - Azusa	1956	12284
Unincorporated - Bassett	2184	14740
Unincorporated - Bouquet Canyon	38	3541
Unincorporated - Bradbury	48	44444
Unincorporated - Canyon Country	633	8191
Unincorporated - Castaic*	3262	11997
Unincorporated - Cerritos	63	10733
Unincorporated - Charter Oak	0	0
Unincorporated - Claremont	36	5128
Unincorporated - Covina	1890	11237
Unincorporated - Covina (Charter Oak)	1243	9457
Unincorporated - Del Aire	234	5327
Unincorporated - Del Rey	18	5660
Unincorporated - Del Sur	133	5507
Unincorporated - Desert View Highlands	289	11592
Unincorporated - Duarte	722	16305
Unincorporated - East Covina	29	8815
Unincorporated - East La Mirada	403	7615
Unincorporated - East Lancaster	15	13158
Unincorporated - East Los Angeles	21372	17061
Unincorporated - East Pasadena	171	2671
Unincorporated - East Rancho Dominguez	2312	15103
Unincorporated - East Whittier	375	7067
Unincorporated - El Camino Village	619	7041
Unincorporated - El Monte	23	15862
Unincorporated - Elizabeth Lake	59	3552
Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone	11469	17725
Unincorporated - Franklin Canyon	1	8333
Unincorporated - Glendora	57	8636
Unincorporated - Hacienda Heights	4224	7553
Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway	0	0
Unincorporated - Hawthorne	260	10342
Unincorporated - Hi Vista	33	3005
Unincorporated - Kagel/Lopez Canyons	156	11048
Unincorporated - La Crescenta-Montrose	826	4172
Unincorporated - La Habra Heights	12	1775
Unincorporated - La Rambla	175	8434
Unincorporated - La Verne*	128	6275
Unincorporated - Ladera Heights	302	4271
Unincorporated - Lake Hughes	34	5090
Unincorporated - Lake Los Angeles	1258	9681
Unincorporated - Lake Manor	104	6330
Unincorporated - Lakewood	0	0
Unincorporated - Lennox	2847	12630
Unincorporated - Leona Valley	89	5083
Unincorporated - Littlerock	406	10097
Unincorporated - Littlerock/Juniper Hills	88	6785
Unincorporated - Littlerock/Pearblossom	413	11572
Unincorporated - Llano	29	3307
Unincorporated - Marina del Rey	259	2752
Unincorporated - Miracle Mile	0	0
Unincorporated - Monrovia	294	7575
Unincorporated - Newhall	59	26818
Unincorporated - North Lancaster	107	8932
Unincorporated - North Whittier	940	11244
Unincorporated - Northeast San Gabriel	1298	5400
Unincorporated - Padua Hills	7	3256
Unincorporated - Palmdale	92	10926
Unincorporated - Palos Verdes Peninsula	18	2899
Unincorporated - Pearblossom/Llano	99	5061
Unincorporated - Pellissier Village	139	22456
Unincorporated - Placerita Canyon	0	0
Unincorporated - Pomona	49	2528
Unincorporated - Quartz Hill	937	7260
Unincorporated - Rancho Dominguez	307	11537
Unincorporated - Roosevelt	65	6982
Unincorporated - Rosewood	126	9798
Unincorporated - Rosewood/East Gardena	134	11232
Unincorporated - Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez	405	12050
Unincorporated - Rowland Heights	2921	5725
Unincorporated - San Clemente Island	0	0
Unincorporated - San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon	12	1399
Unincorporated - San Jose Hills	2987	14772
Unincorporated - San Pasqual	27	1327
Unincorporated - Sand Canyon	13	4221
Unincorporated - Santa Catalina Island	117	43820
Unincorporated - Santa Monica Mountains*	408	2191
Unincorporated - Saugus	108	69677
Unincorporated - Saugus/Canyon Country	26	7303
Unincorporated - South Antelope Valley	22	4835
Unincorporated - South El Monte	295	16435
Unincorporated - South San Gabriel	750	8476
Unincorporated - South Whittier	6835	11541
Unincorporated - Southeast Antelope Valley	64	8195
Unincorporated - Stevenson Ranch	829	3954
Unincorporated - Sun Village	721	11945
Unincorporated - Sunrise Village	163	12577
Unincorporated - Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain	69	4162
Unincorporated - Val Verde	237	7162
Unincorporated - Valencia	139	4525
Unincorporated - Valinda	3086	13204
Unincorporated - View Park/Windsor Hills	550	4727
Unincorporated - Walnut Park	2540	15734
Unincorporated - West Antelope Valley	32	2118
Unincorporated - West Carson	1654	7489
Unincorporated - West Chatsworth	1	8333
Unincorporated - West LA	174	18277
Unincorporated - West Puente Valley	1465	14896
Unincorporated - West Rancho Dominguez	149	10964
Unincorporated - West Whittier/Los Nietos	3605	13389
Unincorporated - Westfield/Academy Hills	24	1846
Unincorporated - Westhills	37	4410
Unincorporated - White Fence Farms	209	5675
Unincorporated - Whittier	257	6792
Unincorporated - Whittier Narrows	8	66667
Unincorporated - Willowbrook	5010	14350
Unincorporated - Wiseburn	392	6504
- Under Investigation	18871

These numbers are subject to change based on further investigation. 674 cases and one death reported earlier were not in Public Health's jurisdiction.

* Means that case numbers include cases associated with correctional facility outbreaks located in the city/community.

**Rate is crude and is per 100,000. This represents the number of cases per 100,000 people and allows for the proportional comparison of cities of different sizes.

The Department of Public Health is committed to promoting health equity and ensuring optimal health and well-being for all 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health comprises nearly 4,500 employees and has an annual budget of $1.2 billion.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health works to protect health,
prevent disease, and promote health and well-being.

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