- ADVERTISEMENT - Since the onset of the pandemic, 949 residents have now died. The city reported 279 new cases of coronavirus Tuesday, the highest daily update since Feb. 8. With 37 patients, hospitalizations in Long Beach-area facilities remain stable and well-below January levels, which almost reached 600 patients and threatened to overwhelm the health system. The city’s daily cases per 100,000 residents jumped again to 14.3, a more than 14-fold increase from a low of one in mid-June. Long Beach’s seven-day positivity rate has increased 1,275% to 5.5% since June 11. Both indicators are at their highest point since mid-February. Based on the state’s now-defunct color-coded system, the case and positivity rates would put Long Beach in the most restrictive purple tier, meaning the virus is widespread. In the past, this would have triggered increased restrictions on businesses and gatherings. As it is, the city, following the lead of the county, has reinstated its mask mandate, requiring everyone to mask up when indoors regardless of vaccination status.