LA exceeds 1 million cases of Coronavirus; Officials identify first strain case in the UK – Deadline

LA exceeds 1 million cases of Coronavirus; Officials identify first strain case in the UK – Deadline

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Los Angeles County, which has become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, has reached its most dire milestone as authorities confirm more than 1 million total cases of Covid-19.

The county continues its trend of at least 100,000 new cases each week, with LA seeing a total of 1,003,923 cases to date. Saturday’s figures confirm 14,669 new Covid-19 cases and 253 new deaths, bringing LA to a total of 13,741 deaths.

To date, 7,597 people are hospitalized, with 22% of patients seen in the ICU.

In addition to the last count, Los Angeles Public Health officials confirmed the first case of UK Coronavirus variant B.1.1.7. The variation, which caused the UK to go through another blockade, is more contagious, officials say.

Although Saturday may mark the first reported appearance of the strain in Los Angeles County, the new coronavirus strain had already made its way through Southern California, including San Diego and San Bernadino. Earlier this month, authorities confirmed 2 new cases of the most contagious variant in the Big Bear area. Before that, the strain had been found in Colorado, marking the first American case of the Covid-19 variant.

The CDC warns that the presence of B.1.1.7 may mark a new phase of “exponential growth” in the total of Covid-19 cases.

While the launch of the vaccine could be a glimmer of hope amid rising numbers and the emergence of the new variant B.1.1.7, officials warn that LA County may see darker days.

“Current experts’ projections predict that, if left unchecked, this variant could dominate locally in March,” said Los Angeles director of public health, Barbara Ferrer, on Friday.

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