California has 50,000 deaths from COVID-19, first state to do so

California’s death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 50,000 on Wednesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins.

The big picture: It is the first state to record more than 50,000 deaths from the coronavirus.

• California, the most populous state in the United States, ranks 25th “for the number of cases per capita due to its large population,” per AP, which notes that the surge in deaths from COVID-19 in the fall and winter has since declined.

Details: Johns Hopkins records showing 50,890 died from the virus in California early Thursday, a day after the Los Angeles County Department of Health announced it had confirmed more than 20,000 deaths from COVID-19.

• The department noted in a statement that cases and deaths from the virus were declining.
• LA County Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in the statement: “This virus is still easily transmitted between people who come into contact with each other and we must do all we can to keep the momentum going. decreases in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. “
• The county is home to 25% of the state’s 40 million people.

For memory: California has started to ease restrictions, and Gov. Gavin Newsom (R) last month lifted stay-at-home orders statewide, saying, “We are seeing a flattening of the curve.”

To note: On Monday, the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 exceeded half a million. Deaths from the virus and the number of infections are falling across the country.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.