LA becomes the first province to reach more than 1 million COVID-19 cases

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Los Angeles County has registered more than 1 million coronavirus infections, making it the first county in the US to hit the grim milestone.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported 1,003,923 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, and a total of 13,741 deaths.

Earlier this week, the province came estimated that 1 in 3 residents has contracted the disease since the start of the pandemic, meaning that at least 3 million residents could be infected.

The department also confirmed the first case of the more contagious COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, first discovered in the UK, in a man who had spent time in the county and traveled to Oregon, where he is in quarantine.

Barbara Ferrer, Director of Public Health, said in a statement that the presence of the variant is “troubling,” adding that “our health care system is already under severe pressure with more than 7,500 people currently hospitalized.”

“Our community is hardest hit by the winter wave, with massive numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths, five times more than during the summer,” Ferrer said. “This more contagious variant makes the spread of infection easier in workplaces, shops and our homes.”

“We are in the midst of a public health emergency, so please do everything you can to protect yourself and your loved ones,” Ferrer continued.

The grim milestone comes as California continues to lead the nation in coronavirus infections. The state reported 2.9 million cumulative cases on Saturday and a total of 23,960 dead.

Texas and Florida follow California in the highest cumulative cases with 2 million and 1.5 million cases, respectively, it said NBC News. New York follows those states with 1.2 million cases.

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