La Cañada-area coronavirus count rises to 3; USC-VHH reports 7 being treated on site
As county health officials track staggering increases in the number of cases of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 — up to 812 Wednesday, including 12 fatalities — the number of community transmissions being logged under La Cañada Flintridge has risen to three.
The Los Angeles County Public Health Department is grouping together all cases that occur in La Cañada and unincorporated La Crescenta and Montrose into a single reporting category labeled “La Cañada Flintridge.”
No information is being given to the public or city officials as to the cities of residence of those individuals who test positive for the virus.
Earlier reports from the county indicated coronavirus cases occurring in cities with fewer than 25,000 residents — like La Cañada Flintridge — would be reported collectively and not by city. As of March 18, a special category for cities with fewer than 25,000 residents had tallied 30.
But on Saturday, a single case was reported specifically to be in the La Cañada Flintridge community. A second area resident testing positive was reported Monday, and in Wednesday’s updated counts a third had appeared.
City Manager Mark Alexander said in an email the city had received no news from the county on virus counts inside city limits.
“We do not receive word from the County DPH regarding any confirmed cases of COVID-19,” Alexander said Monday. “We were also not advised of any change to the 25,000-population rule — thus, we were also surprised to see La Cañada Flintridge specifically identified.”
Officials at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, where the first local case was discovered March 16, on Wednesday announced seven patients who’d tested positive for the virus were being treated at the Glendale facility.
Medical staff were waiting to learn the results of five more tests given to patients currently being treated in house for COVID-19.
An additional nine patients have been sent home, while one patient who’d tested positive was transferred to another facility, the hospital reported.
