The province reported 145 new deaths on Wednesday, the highest total in one day since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
The province also reported 16,525 new coronavirus cases, the highest number aside from a day earlier this month trailing in older cases.
Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of the district department of health services, warned that hospitals have extreme problems dealing with the wave of patients, affecting their ability to treat them and deal with non-coronavirus emergencies and surgeries.
She said cases will continue to rise after the holidays. Between November 1 and January 31, the department is projecting approximately 8,700 deaths from COVID-19.
“We have never seen such high daily mortality rates during the pandemic, and the model predicts the worst is yet to come,” said Ghaly.
“How high those cases are and how overwhelmed our hospitals and caregivers become – and how many people will die from COVID, because COVID has pushed all the air out of their lungs and the machines can’t push it in anymore – that’s all up to us,” Ghaly said.
As Christmas and New Year approached, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of district health, encouraged people not to congregate in groups and travel out of the area.
But she acknowledged that many are likely to ignore those warnings. For those leaving the county and mingling with others, she urged them to remain in quarantine for 10 days upon return to avoid spreading the virus to others.
The county has hospitalized at least 6,155 COVID-19 patients, although the state estimates the number at 6,499.
“This coronavirus has turned our lives and our daily routines upside down,” Ferrer said. “It requires enormous sacrifices as people are dealing with devastating financial losses.”
Other details from Wednesday’s briefing:
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