California has suffered more than 25,000 coronavirus deaths since the outbreak began and officials revealed Thursday that three additional cases involving a mutant version of the virus have been diagnosed in San Diego County.
The grim improvements came as continued compliance moves hospitals and pushes nurses and doctors to the breaking point as they push for another potential increase after the holidays.
“We are tired and so calm before the storm,” said Jahmaal Willis, nurse and emergency room director at Providence St. Medical Center. Mary in Apple Valley. “It’s like fighting a war, a non-stop war, and we’re running out of ammo. We have to bring it together before the next fight. ”
Public health officials continued to plead with residents just hours before the start of 2021 not to gather for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
In Los Angeles County, where an average of six people die every hour from COVID-19, the Department of Public Health released every 10-minute snippets on a lost life.
“The hairdresser who worked for 20 years to finally open her own shop.”
“A grandmother who loved to sing to her grandchildren.”
“The bus driver who drove his daughter through college and was proud.”
The tweets, which included messages to wear a mask, were physical distance, stay at home and “Release the spread. Save a life, ”came on a day when the county reported 290 deaths. That would be a rate of one death every five minutes, even if it involves backup.
Los Angeles County, which has a quarter of the state ‘s 40 million residents, has accounted for 40% of deaths in California, the third state to reach the 25,000 death toll. There have been nearly 38,000 deaths in New York, and more than 27,000 in Texas, according to a report from Johns Hopkins University.
Diseases spread quickly. San Diego County confirmed Thursday that it has detected a total of four cases of the various viruses that appear to be more contagious. A 30-year-old man was tested positive for the variant on Wednesday and three others – two in their 40s and one in his 50s – were diagnosed with the strain. Other cases related to the variant have been confirmed in Florida and Colorado.
At least two of the men in San Diego County had not traveled outside the country and none of them had “known interactions with each other,” the county said. of issues the crop.
San Diego County also reported the highest number of new deaths in a single day at 62, well above the previous record of 39 reported just a week earlier.
Hospitals, particularly in Southern California and the San Joaquin agricultural valley in the central state, have been overrun by virus patients and do not have more intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients.
In Los Angeles County, hospitals were pushed “to disaster,” said Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of health services. “It simply came to our notice then. Not just for our hospitals, for our entire health system. “
Cathy Chidester, director of the county’s Emergency Medical Services Group, said hospitals are experiencing oxygen problems with so many COVID-19 patients needing it because they are struggling with breathing. Old hospitals are struggling to maintain oxygen pressure in an aging infrastructure and some are scrambling to find extra oxygen tanks to take discharged patients home.
Ambulances are forced to wait at bay for up to eight hours before they can transfer patients to hospitals – and in some cases, doctors treat patients inside ambulances, she said.
At Providence St. Medical Center Mary, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, has a cacophany of warnings that resonate when a patient ‘s heart stops and its stable flow from oxygen keeps so many people alive, Willis said. The hospital has filled the triage area with beds and is evaluating new entrants in the park. Three dozen patients were awaiting admission.
“We’re overtaking,” Willis said. We treat patients in chairs, we treat patients in the halls. “
In Santa Clara County, home of Silicon Valley, only 8% of ICU beds were available, which is better than many places. Hospitals are still “expanded to a minimum,” said Dr. Ahmad Kamal, county director of healthcare preparation.
Two months ago, each county had 4.5 cases per 100,000 people. There are now 50 cases per 100,000.
“What we are seeing now is not normal,” said Kamal. “It’s an order of magnitude bigger than we saw just two months ago. We are not out of the woods. We are in the thick of the forest. And we must all redouble our efforts. ”
Kamal said the only good news was that hospitals had not felt the extra pressure of new post – Christmas issues after Thanksgiving Day, which has led to a normal increase.
But public health officials fear that a double whammy from people who gathered at Christmas and New Year’s Eve will give rise to a rise. They last made a bid to get people to stay at home on one of the biggest party nights of the year.
“We recognize the turmoil and harassment,” said Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. “You may just want to get lost for one night to celebrate with friends. However, all it takes is one slip for one show and the coronavirus has found another guest, another victim, and our dangerous rise continues. ”
Most of the state is under a 10f curfew and new restrictions that have closed or reduced business capacity. People are being urged to stay at home as long as possible to try to slow the spread of disease.
Police in Los Angeles are patrolling the streets and looking to close large New Year’s Eve gatherings, Mayor Eric Garcetti said. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria issued an order of action directing stricter enforcement of state and local public health regulations.