Workplace coronavirus infections are declining in Los Angeles County, as reported cases and hospitalizations continue to fall, officials said Monday.

COVID-19 cases for frontline workers, including healthcare professionals, first responders and other employees, have decreased in the past weeks, according to Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

“This is a slight decrease which reflects the fact that our daily positivity rate has been steadily declining for the last six weeks, and enclosing worker protections and safe workplaces are an essential part of our strategy for slowing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting the health of our communities,” said Ferrer. “I want to thank all of the many, many thousands of workplaces that are following all of the requirements for opening their places in a manner that’s safe, protects the workers and the customers.”

652 additional Los Angeles County coronavirus cases have been reported Monday bringing the total to 261,446 according to Public Health.

Cases reported at the beginning of the week are usually lower due to a lag in testing from over the weekend, according to Ferrer.

As of Monday, Los Angeles County remains in Tier 1 of the state’s coronavirus criteria, the highest, most restrictive category.

See Related: California Business Reopening List By Coronavirus Criteria Tiers

There are currently 749 people hospitalized due to COVID-19, with 28 percent of those patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), according to the department.

Testing results are available for 2,500,000 individuals as of Monday, with a positivity rate of 9 percent, according to public health officials.

16 additional deaths have been reported within the county Monday, for a total of 6,366 recorded people who have died due to coronavirus in Los Angeles County since March.

“I do want to take this moment to thank all of the healthcare workers across L.A. County. You’re truly among the heroes of this pandemic. You’ve been at the front lines courageously battling and treating patients from the very beginning of the pandemic, even when there was so little that we knew about this virus,” said Ferrer. “We deeply appreciate your commitment, and we thank you for caring for everyone that needs your help. And to all who are mourning the loss of a health care worker who passed from COVID-19, we mourn these heroes with you.”

As of Monday, a total of 5,725 cumulative cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Santa Clarita Valley since testing began in March. These include:

• 3,341 in the City of Santa Clarita*
• 130 in the unincorporated areas of Canyon Country
• 1,937 in Castaic*
• 27 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus
• 159 in Stevenson Ranch
• 42 in the unincorporated areas of Valencia
• 69 in the unincorporated areas of Val Verde
• Seven in the unincorporated areas of Newhall
• Six in the unincorporated areas of Bouquet Canyon
• One in the unincorporated areas of Saugus/Canyon Country
• Six in unincorporated Sand Canyon

*As of Sunday, Sept. 20, officials had recorded 1,335 cumulative cases among prisoners at the North County Correctional Facility, and 498 at the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center. Those cases are distributed between both the City of Santa Clarita and Castaic totals.

Additionally, 67 cumulative cases have been confirmed in nearby Acton as well as 26 in Agua Dulce.

An analysis of available data indicates that as of Sunday, Sept. 20, approximately 32.1 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 Friday, Sept. 18, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital has conducted 7,763 COVID-19 tests. Of those, 843 have tested positive, and 19 tests are still pending with Henry Mayo, according to Patrick Moody, spokesperson for the hospital.

On Friday, Henry Mayo reported an additional COVID-19 death, bringing the hospital total to 23.

There are 11 patients in the hospital as of Wednesday, while 246 patients have been discharged since the hospital’s first case was reported in March, according to Moody.

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

Ed. Note: This story has been updated to include cumulative COVID-19 data from Monday, 9/21/20.

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