Manhattan Beach on Thursday passed the 300 mark in terms of total coronavirus cases since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The current number of total cases in Manhattan Beach is now at 301, with 4 deaths. 

For comparison's sake, that number represents a "case rate" of 836 cases per 100,000 residents.

Manhattan Beach's case rate of 836 is higher than the case rates in El Segundo (673), Redondo Beach (725), Rancho Palos Verdes (587), Palos Verdes Estates (577), Torrance, (818), and even Santa Monica (781) and Malibu (702). Only Hermosa Beach (915) has a higher case rate.

However, in Manhattan Beach the increase in the number of new cases per day appears to be slowing.

During the second week in July, for example, the number of cases rose at a rate of approximately 5.6 per day. For the past two weeks, the new cases have only been rising at a rate of 1.7 per day. 

At Tuesday night's City Council meeting, officials tentatively credited the city's mask requirement for helping to slow the numbers down.

Manhattan Beach City Manager Bruce Moe told the council that since the beginning of enforcement of the face covering order, city officers have issued 261 citations and 2,379 warnings about wearing face coverings properly. The city has also handed out 1,300 face coverings to those who did not have them.

"When we encounter folks without them, our first tactic is for compliance. That's [why we have] the high number of warnings and masks handed out - and we'll continue to do that," said Moe. 

"I realize we'll never get 100% compliance, but we're making every effort to encourage people to wear their face coverings," Moe added. "While I can't directly pin it to this, I think the face coverings are helping the numbers."

Meanwhile, across Los Angeles County, the L.A. County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has identified 227,346 positive cases of COVID-19 to date across all areas of L.A. County, and a total of 5,446 deaths.

For Thursday, the county confirmed 57 new deaths and 1,603 new cases of COVID-19.

"To the families that are experiencing the sorrow of losing a loved one to COVID-19, I extend my deepest sympathies and wishes for peace," said L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, in a statement. “I’m sure we all know many people with, and we ourselves may have common health conditions that can contribute to more serious illness from COVID-19. These include people with obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. It is important to remember that many people with underlying health conditions go to work, are out shopping for groceries, and enjoy all our beautiful recreational spaces. We can all help protect them from becoming infected by wearing cloth face coverings, distancing, and isolating and quarantining when needed. These actions protect all others, including people who are at increased risk – these actions save lives.”

*Note that the county is still waiting for a backlog of cases from the state electronic lab report (ELR). Data sources that track other key indicators, including hospitalizations and deaths, are not affected by this reporting issue.