COVID: Los Angeles County reports 14,418 new cases of COVID, 102 deaths due to rising virus cases

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – As the launch of the coronavirus vaccine continued on Thursday, Los Angeles County again reported a grim number of numbers, including 14,418 new cases and 102 deaths.

According to the Department of Public Health, 20% of the 4,864 people hospitalized with COVID-19 at the county level were in the ICU.

Meanwhile, the launch of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine continued after it was received by nine pre-established locations in the county. The initial allocation was used to vaccinate front-line health workers before the second delivery of the Pfizer vaccine expected next week.

In a statement, the health department expressed hope that a second vaccine, manufactured by Moderna, will soon receive an emergency use authorization from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Thursday’s new data came just hours after California officials announced that the Southern California region’s intensive care unit had dropped to 0%.

California also reported a staggering 52,000 new cases in a single day – equal to the US average in mid-October – and a record one day with 379 deaths. More than 16,000 people are in coronavirus hospitals across the state, more than three times the number a month ago.

ICU capacity drops to 0% in Southern California, while state reports 379 new deaths, record high

The new cases of LA county bring the total to 580,325. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 8,664 deaths have been reported in the county.

In light of such figures, a coalition of unions is calling on county leaders to adopt a one-month closure that includes heels and the temporary closure of non-essential businesses.

Proponents of the plan and some county supervisors say it would only work if workers and businesses are paid to make up for economic losses.

“What we’re doing is just not working,” said Kurt Peterson of Unite Here Local11. “So we have to follow science, we have to look at the places where they were most successful. In this sense, those places are blocked places for a certain period of time to control the virus. “

California hospitals have depleted almost all intensive care beds for COVID-19 patients, ambulances are backing up outside emergency rooms, and patient tents are growing, as the nation’s most populous state appears to be the latest epicenter. US outbreak.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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