California recorded more than 600 deaths in a single day for the first time on Friday, marking the deadliest day of the pandemic amid a peak holiday season.
California counties reported 682 COVID-19 deaths on Friday, as well as 49,423 cases. To date, 29,238 people have died from the virus in the state and 2.6 million have been infected. A forecast from the California Department of Public Health predicts that deaths will reach almost 36,000 by January 30.
The state now has a 7-day average of 411 new deaths and 42,340 cases and has recorded more than 500 deaths in a single day four times since December 31. During a summer peak from June to August, California peaked at 215 deaths and 16,521 new cases in a single day.
Nearly half of the deaths on Friday – 318 of them – occurred in Los Angeles County, the state’s most recent and hardest hit county. The second youngest deaths occurred in San Diego County, with 33, and San Bernardino County, with 32. Riverside, Santa Clara, and Orange counties followed. Los Angeles County also recorded the highest number of new cases in the state on Friday at 18,001, then San Diego County at 4,550 and Orange County at 3,544. They were followed by Riverside, San Bernardino and Kern counties.
The increase also hit hospitals, where on Thursday 21,855 patients were hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19, a 0.4 percent drop from Wednesday, but a 214 percent increase from the peak. late July peak summer. There were also 4,812 patients in intensive care unit beds with confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 1.5 percent over Wednesday and 137 percent over the July peak.
The Bay Area is now with 3 percent availability of ICU, the Southern California and San Joaquin Valley regions are with 0 percent availability. The Greater Sacramento region is at 6.4% and Northern California at 27.5%.
The growing number of deaths, infections and hospitalizations comes amid efforts to accelerate the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, where California has lagged behind most other states. California administered 1,479 vaccines for every 100,000 residents, the 9th lowest in the country. Among other major states, New York administered 2,235 doses per 100,000, Texas 2,132 per 100,000 and Florida 1,875 per 100,000.
As part of an effort to vaccinate more people, California has also expanded its eligibility to include, among others, workers in primary care clinics, dental and oral clinics and pharmacies.