What you need to know
- California on Thursday became the third state to exceed 25,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, behind New York with nearly 38,000 deaths and Texas with more than 27,000, according to a Johns University count Hopkins.
- San Diego County said it had confirmed a total of four cases related to a mutant variant of the coronavirus that appears to be much more contagious.
- None of the men diagnosed with stress in San Diego County had any known interaction between them and at least three had not traveled outside the country, leading public health officials to believe the new variant is “widespread in the community. “, a county said in the announcement.
California hospitals ended the year “on the brink of catastrophe,” a health official said as the pandemic brought deaths and illnesses to staggering levels and some medical centers rushed to provide oxygen to critically ill patients.
Meanwhile, fervent pleas to stay away from large gatherings — warnings backed by police patrols and threats of fines — replaced the usual holiday calls to avoid drinking and driving or firing guns to celebrate the new year.
Officials warned that the failure of social distance during the holidays could lead to a further rise in COVID-19 that could send the state medical system into disaster.
Hundreds attended a Christian concert in Valencia, seen without wearing masks. As seen on air on January 1, 2021.
California on Thursday became the third state to exceed 25,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, behind New York with nearly 38,000 deaths and Texas with more than 27,000, according to a Johns University count Hopkins.
In addition, San Diego County said it had confirmed a total of four cases related to a mutant variant of the coronavirus that appears to be much more contagious. Other cases have been confirmed in Florida and Colorado.
None of the men diagnosed with stress in San Diego County had any known interaction between them and at least three had not traveled outside the country, leading public health officials to believe the new variant is “widespread in the community. “, a county said in the announcement.
The county also ended the year by announcing a new death toll of 62, the highest figure in a day since the pandemic began.
Hospitals, especially in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Valley in the center of the state, have been flooded with virus patients and have no intensive care beds for patients with COVID-19.
“We’re exhausted and it’s calm before the storm,” said Jahmaal Willis, a nurse and emergency leader at Providence St. Louis Medical Center. Mary and Apple Valley. “It’s like we’re fighting a war, an endless war, and we’re running out of ammunition. We have to get it together before the next fight. “
Coronavirus hospital use projections across the country
This interactive graph uses model data provided by the Institute of Health Metrics and Assessment predict how the coronavirus will affect the health resources of different states. In states like Florida and California, hospital bed use is expected to continue to grow through September and October. According to additional data from The Associated Press, most states have enough general beds for hospitals and ICUs to meet demand.
On Thursday, more than 7,500 people were hospitalized by COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, which has a quarter of the state’s population, which has 40 million people but has accounted for 40 percent of deaths. for viruses.
The virus is pushing hospitals “to the brink of catastrophe,” said county health services director Dr. Christina Ghaly. “It simply came to our notice then. Not just for our hospitals, but for our entire health care system. “
Cathy Chidester, director of the county’s Emergency Medical Services Agency, said hospitals were facing oxygen problems with so many COVID-19 patients who need it because they have difficulty breathing.
Some patients with COVID-19 may require 10 times more oxygen than a normal patient.
Older hospitals are struggling to maintain oxygen pressure on aging infrastructure and some were struggling to locate additional oxygen tanks so that discharged patients could take them home.
The crowding of patients meant that hospitals had to play games to find places to see even those with virus problems.
Chidester said ambulances were forced to wait in the bays for up to eight hours before they could transport patients inside hospitals and in some cases doctors treated patients inside ambulances.
“The current increase in patients … is kind of a hidden disaster,” he said. “It’s not a fire. It is not an earthquake. It is not a train wreck that is right in front of the public … Everything is happening behind the doors of homes and hospitals. “
In Santa Clara County, where Silicon Valley is located, only 8% of ICU beds were available, which was better than many places. Hospitals remain “stretched to the limit,” said Dr. Ahmad Kamal, the county’s director of health preparedness.
Two months ago, the county had 4.5 cases per 100,000 people. It now has 50 cases per 100,000.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department tweeted that it mobilized a “Super-Spreader” working group to crack down on the big illegal New Year’s Eve meetings. Sheriff Alex Villanueva noted that on average one person in the county died of COVID-19 every 10 minutes.
Fresno City Council approved a measure that would impose fines of up to $ 10,000 against owners and organizers of New Year’s Eve parties that would attract 50 or more people.