The highest daily total of new COVID-19 infections in California during the current summer is higher than the highest daily total reported by the state last summer.
On Friday, state health officials reported 14,402 new cases in one day. This number is nearly 1,800 higher than the record high daily death toll of 12,614 new cases reported on August 14, 2020.
The recent increase in new cases coincides with an increase in testing across the state. According to Deadline, more than 250,000 tests were conducted on Friday, while only 30,000 tests were conducted a day around the beginning of this month. In the past 10 days, the number of COVID-related hospitalizations in the state has increased by 97%.
However, the state’s daily death toll starting this summer was lower than last summer. This summer, the 7-day average of daily deaths hovered between 20 and 50. Last summer, it hovered between 60 and 130.
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The number of state cases has increased in all age groups. However, millennials between the ages of 18 and 34 are the group with the largest increase in COVID-19 cases in the state. protector Report, citing state and federal data. Experts told the publication that lower vaccination rates and more social activities among young people have played a part in the rise in millennial infection rates.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of August 5, 52 out of 58 California counties have reported high transmission rates (CDC). A high rate means that more than 100 new cases have been reported per 100,000 residents in the past week, or the positive rate of people tested exceeds 10%.
Infections in Los Angeles County accounted for nearly half of the newly reported cases. Considering that the county accounts for 25% of the state’s population, this is not entirely surprising.
“The state has made great strides in vaccinating Californians. More than 75% of people have received at least one dose and more than 45 million vaccinations, but the Delta variant has led to an increase in the number of cases and hospitalizations,” California Health Ministry of Public Health spokesperson told Weekly newspaper.
The spokesperson pointed out that the number of people receiving the first dose of vaccine in the state recently “is expected to increase by 40%.”
The spokesperson added: “The vaccine is our way to end this pandemic.” Approximately 53% of eligible Californians have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Near the end of July, the state began to take a number of measures to try to prevent the increase in cases.
On July 28, CDPH recommended that everyone use masks in indoor environments, regardless of vaccination status. In the same week, California became the first state to require all states and health care workers to be vaccinated or undergo regular testing.
State universities and community colleges have begun to require all students to be vaccinated. After K-12 schools in the state reopen in the fall, masks and other precautions will also be required. State Education Minister Miguel Cardona said on Friday that the state may have to provide distance learning if the number of cases continues to rise. San Francisco Chronicle Report.
As of August 6, California has the highest total number of COVID-19 cases and related deaths in the country. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the state has reported more than 4.1 million cases and 64,714 deaths.
Update (8/6/2021, 10:47 pm): This article has been updated to include a statement from CDPH.
