Los Angeles County reported another day of ominous records Wednesday as deaths begin to mount after two weeks of an onslaught of COVID-19 cases.
Officials said close to 2,400 people are now hospitalized and 75 people died in the last 24 hours with the virus, with Barbara Ferrer, director of the Department of Public Health, breaking down in tears at one point while giving the daily report.
“Their deaths are an incalculable loss to their families and friends, and to our communities,” she said while struggling to gain composure.
The deaths reported today reflect cases from a month ago—and hospitalizations reported today reflect cases from a few weeks ago. That means the heavy caseloads of the past few days—Wednesday brought another day of close to 9,000 new cases—will begin showing up in hospitals, intensive care units and morgues in coming weeks.
“We are about to bear witness to a significant rise in the number of people who are dying,” Ferrer said, adding that this is a “most dangerous time for LA County.”
Since the pandemic began in March, 8,075 have died of the virus in Los Angeles County, and 475,271 cases have been reported.
Long Beach on Wednesday reported 422 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, which comes after a record day of more than 800 new cases. One additional person also died of the virus, bringing the city’s death total to 288.
There are currently 207 people hospitalized in Long Beach area medical facilities, a more than 400% increase since the beginning of November.
The current transmission rate in the county is estimated at 1.14, representing the average number of people every COVID-19 people infects with the virus. The rate is the same as it was last week.
And the state announced Wednesday that capacity in ICUs, where the sickest patients are treated, is now just 9% for the Southern California region. The recent strict closures are tied to ICU capacity, and were imposed because capacity in the region fell below 15%. The closures will last at least through Dec. 28.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with daily case counts from the city of Long Beach.