‘A DEVASTATING REMINDER’

Child Dies, Tests Positive for Coronavirus in Los Angeles County

“A devastating reminder that COVID-19 infects people of all ages,” a Los Angeles County official warned.

An individual under the age of 18 died and tested positive for the novel coronavirus, marking the first known death of a child who tested positive in the United States, Los Angeles County officials confirmed on Tuesday. “[It is] a devastating reminder that COVID-19 infects people of all ages,” said Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County’s Public Health director. It was reported earlier Tuesday that the child died of COVID-19, but Los Angeles Public Health later said that the death would “require further evaluation” because there may have been an “alternate explanation” for the fatality.

Officials announced four more deaths from the virus on Tuesday afternoon, including the child, bringing the death toll in the county to 11. Officials also confirmed an additional 128 cases for a total of 662. California, which was placed under a statewide lockdown last week, had reported more than 2,200 cases of the virus as of Tuesday.