Health officials say it’s « highly likely » the surge is connected to recent protests, relaxed restrictions and illicit social gatherings.
Los Angeles County health officials reported 2,571 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, the third day in the last week that the county has reported more than 2,000 infections.
The number is especially high considering that cases reported on Mondays are typically lower because of limited testing on weekends and a lag in reporting.
In addition, the county announced 18 additional COVID-19 deaths, bringing the death toll to 3,137.
It’s “highly likely” that the surge is connected to mass protests that erupted in recent weeks over the death of George Floyd, L. A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.
But because contact tracers do not track cases that stem from public settings, it’s often impossible to pinpoint the origin of spread at such events, particularly given that the protests occurred while the county was lifting many of its stay-at-home restrictions.
Ferrer said restaurant settings and parties may also be linked to several clusters of infections in recent weeks, despite the county’s ongoing prohibition of gatherings beyond religious services and political protests. Newly reopened workplaces where people are in close contact may also be a factor.
“The virus is not done with us,” she said.
The county’s updates followed an announcement by Gov.
