Delayed cases Push California COVID-19 deaths past 50,000

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Los Angeles County reported another 806 coronavirus deaths Wednesday during the winter hike, bringing the California toll to more than 50,000, or about a tenth of the total in the United States. United by the pandemic.

The county, which has a quarter of the state’s 40 million residents, said the deaths occurred primarily between Dec. 3 and Feb. 3. toll.

“It is heartbreaking to report on this large number of additional deaths associated with COVID-19 and a devastating reminder of the terrible toll the winter hike has suffered on so many families in the county,” said Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County Health Director at a statement.

Johns Hopkins University put the overall COVID-19 death toll in California at 50,890.

The sad figure comes days after the U.S. recorded half a million deaths.

Although the nation’s most populous state has the highest number of deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S., it ranks 25th in the number of cases per capita due to its large population.

The death toll rose sharply amid a wave of fall and winter that has begun to decline as cases and hospitalizations dwindle. Los Angeles County reported 136 additional deaths Wednesday, accounting for nearly half of the state’s 314 additional deaths.

The state has begun easing more restrictions on businesses after lifting a stay-at-home order about a month ago. Governor Gavin Newsom has promised to reopen schools soon despite opposition from teachers ’unions.

It took ten months until the state reached 25,000 deaths on New Year’s Eve and less than two months until the number doubled.

When the state reached 40,000 deaths on January 30, it had recorded 3,800 deaths the previous week. In state figures released as of Tuesday, it recorded 2,370 deaths over the past week.

Due to a lag from infection to disease to hospitalization and death, the number of deaths has decreased more slowly than infections. But deaths are expected to continue to fall.

Deaths have affected the poor and Latino and black communities are especially hard. People who work with essential jobs are more exposed to the virus and are more likely to take it home to other people who share homes with many people.

The Latino mortality rate is 21% higher than the state figure and 7% higher for blacks, according to the state Department of Public Health.

Latinos comprise a plurality of the population (39%), but 55% of cases and 46% of deaths. Blacks represent 6% of the state’s population and account for 4% of cases and 6% of deaths. In comparison, whites account for 37% of the population, but only 20% of cases and 32% of deaths.

Case rates are 38% higher in communities where the average annual income is less than $ 40,000.