What to know
- California became the third state to exceed 25,000 COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, behind New York with nearly 38,000 deaths and Texas with more than 27,000, according to a Johns Hopkins University issue.
- San Diego County said it has confirmed a total of four cases involving a mutant variant of coronavirus that appears to be more contagious.
- None of the men diagnosed with the strain in San Diego County had any known interactions with each other and at least three did not travel abroad, leading public health officials to believe the new variant is “widespread in the community.” , a county said the announcement.
California hospitals ended the year “on the verge of disaster,” a health official said, while the pandemic caused deaths and illness at staggering levels, and some medical centers rushed to provide oxygen for the seriously ill.
Meanwhile, fervent pleas to stay away from large gatherings – warnings from patrol police and threats of large fines – have replaced the usual public holiday calls to avoid drinking and driving or firing weapons to celebrate the new year.
Officials warned that the failure of social distance for the holidays could lead to a further increase in COVID-19 that could send the state’s medical system on a path to disaster.
Hundreds of people attended a Christian concert in Valencia, seen without wearing masks. As seen on January 1, 2021.
California on Thursday became the third state to exceed 25,000 COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, behind New York with nearly 38,000 deaths and Texas with more than 27,000, according to a Johns Hopkins University issue.
In addition, San Diego County said it has confirmed a total of four cases involving a mutant variant of coronavirus that appears to be more contagious. Other cases have been confirmed in Florida and Colorado.
None of the men diagnosed with the strain in San Diego County had any known interactions with each other and at least three did not travel abroad, leading public health officials to believe the new variant is “widespread in the community.” , a county said the announcement.
The county also ended the year by announcing a new death toll, 62, the highest figure in a day since the pandemic began.
Hospitals, especially in Southern California and the mid-state agricultural San Joaquin Valley, have been overrun by virus patients and no longer have intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients.
“We are exhausted and it is quiet before the storm,” said Jahmaal Willis, a nurse and emergency room leader at Providence St. John’s Medical Center. Mary from Apple Valley. “It’s like fighting a war, an endless war and running out of ammunition. We have to reunite her before the next fight. “
Coronavirus Hospital uses screenings across the country
This interactive diagram uses model data provided by the Institute for Metrics and Health Assessment to predict how coronavirus will affect health care resources in different states. In states such as Florida and California, hospital bed use is expected to continue to increase through September and October. Most states have enough beds for general hospitals and ICUs to meet demand, according to additional data from the Associated Press.
On Thursday, more than 7,500 people were hospitalized for COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, which has a quarter of the state’s population of 40 million, but recorded 40% of deaths caused by the virus.
The virus is pushing hospitals “to the brink of catastrophe,” said the county’s health services director, Dr. Christina Ghaly. “It simply came to our notice then. Not just for our hospitals, for our entire health care system. “
Cathy Chidester, director of the county’s Emergency Medical Services Agency, said hospitals face oxygen problems, with so many COVID-19 patients needing it because they are struggling to breathe.
Some patients with COVID-19 may need 10 times more oxygen than a normal patient.
Older hospitals have difficulty maintaining oxygen pressure in aging infrastructure, and some are rushing to locate additional oxygen tanks for outpatients to take home.
The crushing of patients meant that hospitals had to make jokes to find places to see even those with non-virus complaints.
Chidester said ambulances were forced to wait in the bays for up to eight hours before they could transfer patients to hospitals – and in some cases doctors treated patients inside ambulances.
“The current increase in patients … is a kind of hidden disaster,” she said. “It’s not a fire. It’s not an earthquake. It is not a train wreck that is right in front of the public … Everything happens behind the doors of households and hospitals. “
In Santa Clara County, where Silicon Valley is located, only 8% of the intensive care beds were available, which was better than many places. Hospitals are still “stretched to the limit,” said Dr. Ahmad Kamal, the county’s director of medical training.
Two months ago, the county had 4.5 cases per 100,000 people. He now has 50 cases per 100,000.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department wrote on Twitter that it is mobilizing a “Super-Spreader” working group to combat illegal and large New Year’s Eve rallies. Sheriff Alex Villanueva mentioned that on average one person in the county dies of COVID-19 every 10 minutes.
Fresno City Council approved a measure that would impose fines of up to $ 10,000 against New Year’s Eve party owners and organizers who drew 50 or more people.