Death of child from coronavirus reported in California

A child under the age of 18 has died of the coronavirus in California, health officials said Tuesday.

The youth was one of three new deaths the Los Angeles County health department reported Tuesday, bringing the total deaths countywide to 11. The other two deaths were individuals between 50 and 70 years old with underlying health conditions. 

The Hill reached out to an L.A. County spokesperson to confirm whether the minor also had underlying conditions.

“Each loss we experience in LA County is tragic, and we are sending our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones who’ve had to endure this tragedy,” Barbara Ferrer, county public health director, said in a statement. “COVID-19 does not discriminate by age, race or income level, and what we are seeing in places like New York is indicative of what we should prepare to experience here.”

The county also reported 256 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus, bringing its total to 662. 

As of Tuesday, 119 cases have been hospitalized, according to the county. 

Ferrer urged the public to follow recommendations of social distancing in order to help mitigate the spread of the virus. 

“While Public Health is doing everything possible to mitigate the impact of this disease in our community, we can only flatten the curve if EVERYONE takes social distancing seriously and adheres to all isolation and quarantine orders issued by our Health Officer,” she said in a statement. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) put in place a stay-at-home order last week. The order requires all Californians to stay at home except for essential needs, and those found violating the law could be fined up to $1,000. 

California’s health department reported 1,733 cases and 27 deaths as of Sunday.