Los Angeles County has recorded over 1 million coronavirus infections, becoming the first county in the U.S. to reach the grim milestone.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported 1,003,923 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, and a total of 13,741 deaths.
Earlier this week, the county estimated that 1 in 3 residents have contracted the disease since the pandemic began, meaning that at least 3 million residents may have been infected.
The department also confirmed the first case of the more contagious COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, which was first discovered in the U.K., in a male who had spent time in the county and traveled to Oregon, where he is quarantining.
Public Health Announces First Confirmed Case of U.K. Coronavirus Variant as Los Angeles County Surpasses 1 Million Total Cases; 253 New Deaths and 14,669 New Positive Cases of #COVID19. View https://t.co/iIME3A7PAg for More Information. pic.twitter.com/smSgaOsk0N
— LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) January 16, 2021
Barbara Ferrer, Director of Public Health said in a statement that the presence of the variant is “troubling,” adding that “our healthcare system is already severely strained with more than 7,500 people currently hospitalized.”
“Our community is bearing the brunt of the winter surge, experiencing huge numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths, five-times what we experienced over the summer,” Ferrer said. “This more contagious variant makes it easier for infections to spread at worksites, at stores, and in our homes.”
“We are in the midst of a public health emergency so please do everything you can to protect yourselves and those you love,” Ferrer continued.
The grim milestone comes as California continues to lead the nation in coronavirus infections. The state reported 2.9 million cumulative cases on Saturday, and a total of 23,960 fatalities.
California COVID-19, By The Numbers:
— CA Public Health (@CAPublicHealth) January 16, 2021
Confirmed cases to date: 2,900,246
Note: Numbers may not represent true day-over-day change as reporting of test results can be delayed
More information at https://t.co/TLLUGwPGY7. pic.twitter.com/Jdcn2gGalX
Texas and Florida follow California in highest cumulative cases with 2 million and 1.5 million cases respectively, according to NBC News. New York follows after those states with 1.2 million cases.
