A total of 7,955 coronavirus, COVID-19, cases have been confirmed in Los Angeles County, officials said Thursday.

There have been 425 new cases confirmed Thursday, with 1,045 cases in the past 48 hours, according to Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

“I urge everyone to remember how important it is to understand that we need universal precautions,” said Ferrer. “Because we’re all able to get sick from this infection and unfortunately we’re equally able to transmit this infection to others.”

A total of 25 deaths have been reported Thursday, bringing the county total to 223, according to Ferrer.

The mortality rate has slightly risen for the third day, now standing at 2.8 percent, according to the public health director.

A total of 24 percent of all coronavirus cases have been hospitalized at some point during treatment, according to Ferrer.

Over 38,300 tests have been conducted so far as of Wednesday, including about 250 at the Santa Clarita testing center, according to public health officials.

“If you’ve been tested, and since the majority of people being tested are symptomatic, if you’re waiting for results and have symptoms, you have to stay home and self-isolate while you’re waiting for your test results,” Ferrer said. “Please don’t wait for a confirmation you’re positive to begin your self-isolation; you actually need to self-isolate at the moment you start having symptoms.”

Ferrer acknowledged that for people who require caregivers or have decreased immune function due to chronic conditions, the responsibility for safe distancing practices must fall upon caregivers.

See Related: Over 151 Santa Clarita Valley Coronavirus Cases Confirmed, 15 Hospitalized

As of Wednesday afternoon, there are 122 confirmed cases in the city of Santa Clarita, six in Castaic, 10 in Stevenson Ranch and 11 in the unincorporated areas of Canyon Country, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The numbers for the unincorporated portions of Valencia and Saugus, as well as nearby Acton and Agua Dulce, have been “suppressed,” meaning there are between one and four confirmed cases for each community, according to public health officials.

This is done to protect patient privacy. Once these locations have five or more confirmed cases, the numbers are expected to be included, according to a public health spokesperson.

The next update on the number of cases in the Santa Clarita Valley is expected later Thursday afternoon.

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