Coronavirus cases surge in L.A. County, nine deaths reported

The number of COVID-19 cases surged as the county stepped up testing with 421 new cases and nine deaths reported by Los Angeles County health officials on Thursday. That brings the total number of cases to 1,216 with 21 deaths. About one out of every five of those tested positive for COVID-19 have had to be hospitalized.

"Unfortunately, we have been expecting this," said Barbara Ferrer, the county's public health director in a statement. "This dramatic increase in cases is due in part to increased testing capacity in LA County, which is allowing us to identify more positive cases. In order to slow the spread and save lives, all of us must do our part by staying home, adhering to all social distancing measures and caring for each other."

Two deaths previously reported have been dropped from the total including a minor from Lancaster whose cause of death is under investigation. The other individual was not a Los Angeles County resident.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told residents that it may be "at least two months" in which they'll be quarantined at home, and that Staples Center and Hollywood studios could be used as makeshift hospitals if needed. Garcetti toldBusiness Insider "to be prepared for longer" despite comments from President Trump that he wants the nation to open back up by Easter.

Garcetti warned Los Angeles Wednesday that it is not acceptable for workers to return to their offices, warning that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is still to come. He said the Department of Water and Power will shut services for businesses that don't comply with the city's "safer at home" ordinance. California has the fourth-largest infected population with some 2,500 cases and 53 related deaths as of Thursday.

U.S. unemployment figures soar to 3.3. million, California tops 1 million claims

The U.S. weekly job claims skyrocketed to a historic high of 3.3 million last week as efforts to contain the fast spreading coronavirus has shut down businesses and paused daily life. Californians were especially hard hit, with Gov. Gavin Newsom announcing on Wednesday that the state hit more than 1 million unemployment claims since March 13.

It comes as House prepares to vote on a historic $2 trillion stimulus package approved by the Senate on Wednesday. The emergency relief package would give most adults $1,200, although some would get less in a hope to stem the economic wreckage coronavirus has caused. An additional $500 payment would be given for children under 16 years of age.

NBCUniversal chief Jeff Shell tells staff he has coronavirus

NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell told staff in a companywide memo on Thursday that he has tested positive for coronavirus. The longtime Hollywood leader oversees Universal Pictures, NBCUniversal, Telemundo, and NBC Entertainment. "I recently have been feeling under the weather and just learned that I have tested positive for COVID-19. Although the virus has been tough to cope with, I have managed to work remotely in L.A. and am improving every day," Shell said in the memo.