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The county reported 145 new deaths on Wednesday, the highest total in one day since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
The county also reported 16,525 new cases of the coronavirus, the highest number except a day earlier this month that included a backlog of older cases.
Dr Christina Ghaly, director of the county’s health services department, warned that hospitals were having extreme difficulties dealing with the influx of patients, which was impacting their ability to treat them as well as to do in the face of emergencies and surgeries unrelated to coronaviruses.
She said cases would continue to rise after the holidays. Between November 1 and January 31, the department predicts around 8,700 deaths from COVID-19.
“We have never seen such high daily death rates during the pandemic and the model predicts the worst is yet to come,” Ghaly said.
“How high are these cases going and how overwhelmed our hospitals and health workers are – and how many people will die from COVID, because COVID has forced all the air out of their lungs and machines cannot the more pushing it inside – it’s all up to us, ”Ghaly said.
With Christmas and New Years approaching, county health director Dr. Barbara Ferrer has warned people to avoid gathering in groups and traveling outside the area.
But she acknowledged that many would likely ignore these warnings. For those who travel out of the county and mingle with others, she urged them to quarantine for 10 days upon their return to avoid spreading the virus to others.
The county has at least 6,155 hospital patients for COVID-19, although the state estimates the figure at 6,499.
“This coronavirus has changed our lives, our daily routines,” Ferrer said. “It took huge sacrifices, as people face devastating financial losses.”
Other details from Wednesday’s briefing:
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