California reported 680 deaths from COVID-19 on Friday, the second most ever in a single day, while the number of patients hospitalized with the virus declined slightly amid one of the worst winter congestion in the country.
The number of patients hospitalized in confirmed cases decreased by 1.3% on Thursday from the previous day to 20,998 patients. It is down 2.8% from a week earlier, but still up 838 percent from three months ago, before the current boom began in early November. The number of patients in ICU with confirmed cases decreased by 0.5% on Thursday to 4,745. This is 2.4% higher than a week ago and an increase of 691% from three months ago.
According to the California Department of Public Health, the ICU area is 3.4% available. The San Joaquin Valley and Southern California regions are available at 0 percent ICU. The Greater Sacramento region has 6.4% availability and the Northern California region 24% availability.
On Friday, California provinces reported 39,557 new cases of COVID-19, a total of more than 2.9 million since the pandemic began. The state has an average of seven days of 42,316 daily affairs, up 2.3% from a week ago. Los Angeles County reported the most new cases, 14,629, then San Bernardino County with 3,510 and Orange County with 3,158. They were followed by the counties of San Diego, Ventura and Santa Clara.
Provinces also reported 680 COVID-19 deaths on Friday. The death record of 682 for one day was set on January 8 a week ago. The state has an average of seven days of 534 daily deaths, about 30% higher than a week earlier. Los Angeles County, the largest and hardest hit in the state, reported the most deaths with 255, followed by Riverside County with 118 and Orange County with 88. Then followed the counties of San Diego, Fresno and San Mateo. These numbers reflect when deaths were publicly reported by the country on their online COVID-19 dashboard and not necessarily when they occurred, as there may be a delay in reporting deaths.
Santa Clara County reported 1,604 new cases and 12 deaths on Friday, for a total of 89,983 cases and 1,040 deaths. Alameda County reported 894 new cases for a total of 64,760 cases and 755 deaths. Contra Costa County reported 868 cases and 20 deaths and had a total of 50,687 cases and 430 deaths.
San Mateo County reported 454 new cases and 26 deaths on Friday and has a total of 30,650 cases and 294 deaths since the onset of the pandemic. San Francisco has reported 343 cases and four deaths for a total of 27,878 cases and 241 deaths since the onset of the pandemic.