California Hospitals Struggle With Surge of Coronavirus Cases, Deaths

Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths are once again on the rise as the effects of holiday gatherings start to actualize. In California, one of the hardest hit states in the country, Los Angeles County has issued a new grim advisory. Infections have risen to about one in five residents who get tested. Around one person every fifteen minutes is dying from Covid with experts predicting soon they will reach around 1,000 deaths a week. Hospitals and intensive care units are completely overwhelmed. With beds no longer available, ambulance crews have been told not to transport patients who have little chance of survival. Presently, only 454,000 people have received a Covid vaccine in California despite having nearly 1.3 million doses. Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged the rollout has been slow but said they’re trying to act more aggressively. The FDA has further reminded Americans the vaccines will not be effective unless you receive both the initial shot and the booster dose. This all comes as large parts of Europe are shutting down again, including a total lock down in Britain starting today.