New coronavirus cases in California continue to decline as the total number of vaccinated residents in the state continues to rise, positive signs that a massive winter wave that has caused a skyrocket of cases and deaths in the state is coming to an end.
On Friday, California counties reported 3,652 new cases of COVID-19, according to data tracked by this news organization. The state now has a seven-day average of 3,677 new cases, the lowest average since October 22, before the increase sends average case rates of up to 45,388 on December 22. There have been 3,594,282 cases in California since the start of the pandemic, although that does not include cases where an individual has been infected, but has never been tested for the virus.
Los Angeles County, the largest and hardest hit in the state, reported 889 cases on Friday, San Diego County reported 362 and Kern County reported 199. They were followed by Riverside, Sacramento and Orange counties.
Vaccinations, however, continue to increase. So far, 11,169,839 doses have been administered in the state, of 15,384,710 doses that have been delivered in California, according to the state Department of Public Health, and 25.2 percent of Californians aged 18 or older have received at least a dose of vaccine, while 11.8 percent were fully vaccinated, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Although cases have returned to pressurization levels, deaths remain high – death rates are often behind cases. On Friday, counties recorded 325 deaths in the state, for an average of 228 daily deaths in seven days: This is the lowest average since December 30. The state recorded 55,467 deaths from the virus.
Los Angeles County recorded the highest number of deaths on Friday, with 100 deaths, then San Bernardino County with 57 and Riverside County with 30. They were followed by Orange, Santa Clara and Kern counties.
The number of patients hospitalized or in intensive care beds with confirmed cases of COVID-19 has also improved in recent weeks. On Thursday, there were 3,335 patients hospitalized with the virus in the state, down 4.1 percent from the previous day and the lowest number of patients hospitalized since November 9. The number of patients in ICU beds increased by 0.5 percent on Thursday to 966 patients, although it is still the lowest number of patients since November 13.
In the bay area, Santa Clara County reported the highest number of new cases on Friday, with 145 infections and 22 deaths, for a total of 112,470 cases and 1,858 deaths since the pandemic began. Alameda County reported 119 cases and three deaths, for a total of 81,866 cases and 1,327 deaths. Contra Costa County reported 118 cases and no new deaths for a total of 63,860 cases and 716 deaths.
San Mateo County reported 59 cases and six deaths, for a total of 39,349 cases and 534 deaths. And San Francisco reported 32 cases and five deaths for a total of 34,495 cases and 445 deaths during the pandemic.