COVID-19 cases rise in California

by Zaid Aleem

California on Wednesday reported a record-breaking 53,711 new cases of COVID-19, the highest number of cases the state has seen in a single day since the pandemic began, according to ABC7. This alarming number surpasses a record set just three days ago when California recorded 35,729 new cases.

California now has 1,671,081 cases in total, according to the state’s COVID-19 tracker. With 53,711 cases recorded in a single day, this is a 3.3 percent increase from previous data. Additionally, 293 deaths were recorded from the virus in the last 24-hour period, bringing California’s death toll to 21,481, which marks the highest number of deaths in a single day. The state is averaging 163 virus deaths per day, up from 63 just two weeks ago.

The number of COVID-19 diagnostic test results in California reached a total of 28,149,590, an increase of 304,524 tests from the prior day total. The rate of positive tests over the last 14 days is 11 percent, according to the tracker. This is a 4 percent increase in test positivity compared to 14 days ago. 

With the holiday season around the corner, this is a huge cause of concern for the state authorities. “Unfortunately, I’m anticipating a grim set of weeks before and after the New Year, just given the trends that we’re seeing with the number of cases,” Dr. Rais Vohra said, the county’s interim public health officer.

Southern California hospitals have reached a dangerously low level for available ICU capacity of 1.7 percent, according to state figures released Tuesday. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday the state’s overall ICU available capacity stands at 5.7 percent. 

In Orange County, health officials planned to send large tents to four hospitals to help accommodate patients. Bruce Barton, EMS director for Riverside County, said a couple of hospitals hit capacity in the past week and local officials had to step in to take some bodies. In Fresno County, officials said Tuesday that just 16 ICU beds remained available and were filling rapidly.