The county reported 145 new deaths on Wednesday, the highest total in a day since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
The county also reported 16,525 new cases of coronavirus, the highest number except for a day earlier this month, which included an outstanding number of older cases.
Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of the County Department of Health Services, warned that hospitals have extreme difficulties in treating patients’ growth, affecting their ability to treat them, as well as in emergencies and non-coronavirus surgery.
She said cases would continue to rise after the holidays. Between November 1 and January 31, the department projects approximately 8,700 deaths caused by COVID-19.
“We have never seen such high daily death rates during the pandemic, and the model predicts that the worst is yet to come,” Ghaly said.
“How big these cases are and how overwhelmed our hospitals and health workers are – and how many people will die because of COVID, because COVID has pushed all the air out of their lungs and cars can no longer push it – it all depends of us, “Ghaly said.
With Christmas and New Year approaching, the county health director, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, warned people to avoid gathering in groups and traveling outside the area.
But she acknowledged that many are likely to ignore these warnings. For those who travel outside the county and mingle with others, she urged them to be quarantined for 10 days when they return to avoid spreading the virus to others.
The county has at least 6,155 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, although the state estimates the figure at 6,499.
“This coronavirus has turned our lives upside down, our daily routine,” Ferrer said. “Enormous sacrifices are needed because people are facing devastating financial losses.”
Other details from Wednesday’s briefing:
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