California is now the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the US setting a nationwide record with more than 50,000 new infections Thursday and over 100,000 new cases in the past 48 hours.
Over the past week alone the Golden State recorded more than 250,000 new infections, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
If California were a country it would surpass India, Germany and Britain in new COVID-19 cases, according to the Washington Post.
On Thursday the state also set a new daily deaths record with 379 new fatalities, surpassing the previous high of 293 the day prior, for a total of 21,860 virus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic.
As of Thursday more than 1.7million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the state since the start of the pandemic and the state has a seven-day positivity rate of 12.8 percent.
Hospitals have become overwhelmed with patients and the intensive care units in Southern California, which covers Los Angeles and San Diego, hit zero percent capacity on Thursday.
The catastrophic numbers in California continue to worsen even as the state has brought back tough restrictions, sparking criticism over Gov. Gavin Newsom’s handling of the pandemic.
California Republicans, backed by Democrats, have led a recall effort to oust him.
Throughout the pandemic Republicans have rallied to recall Newsom, a procedure where voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before their term has ended.
While Newsom initially was praised for his leadership amid the pandemic, he took a hit after he was seen dining at Michelin star restaurant French Laundry last month even as he told Californians to stay home.
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SOURCE: Daily Mail, Marlene Lenthang
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