Over 8,000 cases countywide

By Sam Catanzaro

Nearly 100 Santa Monica residents have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as county health officials extend the stay-at-home order until May 15.

On Monday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) reported that no new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Santa Monica Monday. Over the weekend, four new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Santa Monica and on Tuesday four cases were confirmed, bringing the total number in the city to 96

Countywide, there have been 10,046 confirmed cases as of Tuesday and 360 deaths. According to Public health, of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 262 people. 34 percent of deaths occurred among Latinx residents, 32 percent among White residents, 17 percent among Asian residents, 16 percent among African American residents and 2 percent among residents identifying with other races.

A new County Health Officer Order was issued Friday extending the stay-at-home through May 15, 2020.

The county order also requires essential businesses to provide a cloth face covering for all of their employees to wear while performing duties that involve contact with other employees and or the public and to post their physical distancing plans. The public is also required to wear a face-covering to enter essential businesses.

In addition, all public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit remain prohibited. Beaches, trails and trailheads and non-essential businesses remain closed.

At a press conference Friday, county health officials emphasized that it is critical that everyone continue to comply with the order to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“Recent data modeling done in partnership with the Department of Health Services and UCLA suggests that our collective distancing efforts are working and that we must continue to stay home whenever possible,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Director of Public Health.

Businesses have until April 15 to comply with Friday’s order.