LOS ANGELES (AP) – Los Angeles County reported an additional 806 deaths from coronavirus during the winter wave on Wednesday, putting California’s toll above 50,000, or about one-tenth of the total in the US from the pandemic.
The county, which has a quarter of the state’s 40 million residents, said the deaths mainly occurred between December 3 and February 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 wave has taken on so many families across the county,” said Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County health director. in a statement.
Johns Hopkins University estimates the total death toll from COVID-19 in California at 50,890.
The grim figure comes days after the US recorded half a million deaths.
Although the most populous state in the country has the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in the US, it ranks 25th in the number of cases per capita due to its large population.
The death toll climbed abruptly amid an autumn and winter wave that began to recede as cases and hospitalizations decline. Los Angeles County reported a further 136 deaths on Wednesday, accounting for nearly half of the 314 additional deaths in the state.
The state has started relaxing more restrictions on businesses after a house arrest was lifted about a month ago. Gavin Newsom has vowed to reopen schools soon, despite opposition from teachers’ unions.
It took 10 months for the state to hit 25,000 dead on New Year’s Eve and less than two months for that number to double.
When the state reached 40,000 deaths on January 30, there had been 3,800 deaths in the previous week. In state figures reported through Tuesday, it recorded 2,370 deaths in the past week.
Due to a delay from infection to illness to hospitalization and death, the number of deaths has decreased more slowly than infections. But the death toll is expected to continue to decline.
Deaths have affected the poor, especially the Latino and black communities. People who have essential jobs are more exposed to the virus and are more likely to bring it home to others who share a busy living space.
The death rate for Latinos is 21% higher than the statewide figure and 7% higher for Negroes, the Department of Health said.
Latinos make up a large number of the population – 39% – but 55% of cases and 46% of deaths. Black people make up 6% of the state’s population and account for 4% of cases and 6% of deaths. In comparison, whites make up 37% of the population, but only 20% of cases and 32% of deaths.
The number of cases is 38% higher in communities where the mean annual income is less than $ 40,000.