Over 3,700 new coronavirus cases have been reported in Los Angeles County Saturday,  the largest one-day increase not associated with a backlog reported since July, officials said.

Los Angeles County Public Health officials noted that the elevated number of cases today partially reflects increased testing across the county; on Friday over 56,000 tests were processed, and the positivity rate remains high at almost 6 percent.

Younger people continue to drive the increase in community transmission in the county. Over 74 percent of the new cases Saturday are from people under the age of 50 years old; conversely, 90 percent of Saturday’s reported deaths are people who are over 50 years old, according to public health.

“The rise in cases complicates planning for increasing the numbers of students returning to schools, further re-opening additional sectors and permitting additional activities,” read a Saturday news release.

Residents between the ages of 30 and 49 years old have the highest percent of new cases at 34 percent, followed by residents between the ages of 18 and 29 years old, comprising 27 percent of all new cases.

“Many younger people are out socializing with non-household members, raising concerns that asymptomatic young people are helping to spread the virus to more vulnerable people at a time when cases are surging dangerously in the county,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Director of Public Health. “While the effect of the coronavirus on younger people may not be significantly associated with deaths, younger people definitely act as a transmission connector to individuals at a higher risk.”

Public health officials continue to request that residents use caution when traveling for the coming holidays in order to prevent any further surges in cases, which are invariably linked to higher hospitalization and death rates.

“As the holiday season approaches and COVID-19 spread is increasing, it is critically important that everyone follow the simple public health safety measures that provide protection from COVID-19 and minimizes spreading it to friends and family. There is a high level of risk associated with gatherings of any kind, especially when people are inside, and not keeping physical distance of at least 6 feet and wearing face coverings,” officials said.

On Saturday, 86 additional Santa Clarita Valley coronavirus cases have been reported, apart of 3,780 new cases have been confirmed across Los Angeles County, according to Ferrer.

The countywide total now stands at 336,549  as of Saturday, with the Santa Clarita Valley coronavirus case count reaching 8,016, according to the department.

20 additional deaths were reported Saturday, bringing the cumulative total in L.A. County to 7,266 deaths, according to public health.

Over 3,365,000 coronavirus tests have been conducted as of Saturday, with about 9 percent of those tests returning positive.

There are 966 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Saturday, 28 percent of which are in the ICU. Today’s current hospitalizations are the highest it has been in nearly two months, officials said.

As of Saturday, a total of 8,016 cumulative cases of COVID-19 since testing began in March. These include:

• 5,073 in the City of Santa Clarita*
• 187 in the unincorporated areas of Canyon Country
• 2,249 in Castaic*
• 43 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus
• 235 in Stevenson Ranch
• 55 in the unincorporated areas of Valencia
• 110 in the unincorporated areas of Val Verde
• 30 in the unincorporated areas of Newhall
• 12 in the unincorporated areas of Bouquet Canyon
• 12 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus/Canyon Country
• Seven in unincorporated Sand Canyon
• Three in unincorporated San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon

Additionally, 97 cumulative cases were confirmed in nearby Acton as well as 53 in Agua Dulce.

*As of Friday, Nov. 13 officials have recorded 1,895 cumulative cases have been reported at the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center, including 1,373 at the North County Correctional Facility. Those cases are distributed between both the City of Santa Clarita and Castaic totals.

An analysis of available data indicates that as of Friday, Nov. 13,  approximately 23.9 percent of all cumulative cases in and around the Santa Clarita Valley can be attributed to the inmate population at the North County Correctional Facility and the Pitchess Detention Center.

As of Wednesday, Nov. 11, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital has conducted 10,964 COVID-19 tests. Of those, 1,122 have tested positive, and four tests are still pending with Henry Mayo, according to Patrick Moody, spokesperson for the hospital.

There are 16 patients in the hospital as of Wednesday, Nov. 11 while 328 patients have been discharged since the hospital’s first case was reported in March, according to Moody.

Two additional heaths have been reported at Henry Mayo Wednesday bringing the total to 35 coronavirus deaths at the hospital. At least 78 COVID-19 deaths have been reported across the Santa Clarita Valley.

See All Coronavirus Coverage: Coronavirus Coverage – COVID-19 Map

Ed. Note: These numbers are subject to change based on further investigation by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

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