State suffers 694 new deaths, but virus hospitalizations fall
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California reported its second-highest number of COVID-19 deaths Wednesday but also a dip in hospitalizations below 20,000 for the first time since Dec. 27.
The total of 694 new deaths is second to the record 708 reported Jan. 8, according to the state Department of Public Health. Hospitalizations stood at 19,979.
California officials are pinning their hopes on President Joe Biden as they struggle to obtain vaccines to curb a coronavirus surge that has packed hospitals and morgues.
Doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been arriving haphazardly as they make their way from the source to counties, cities and hospitals.
Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger put in a pitch for vaccination, posting a Twitter video of himself getting a shot in his right bicep at the drive-thru site at Dodger Stadium.
“Today was a good day,” he wrote. “I have never been happier to wait in a line. If you’re eligible, join me and sign up to get your vaccine. Come with me if you want to live!”
San Francisco’s public health department said it was likely to run out of vaccine Thursday in part because the state pulled back on administering a batch of Moderna shots after several health workers had bad reactions.
The county health department received 12,000 doses last week but fewer than 2,000 doses this week. Local hospitals had their own supplies.
Los Angeles County, a COVID-19 epicenter, had enough vaccine to “get through this week,” with an uncertain future supply, Barbara Ferrer, the county’s public health director, said Tuesday.
There are hopeful indicators that a much-feared surge-atop-a-surge from New Year’s Eve gatherings won’t be as bad as estimated.
Statewide hospitalizations are down 8.5 percent over 14 days. Hospitals that had been seeing 3,500 new patients each day are seeing 2,500 to 2,900 daily admissions — still high but “quite a significant reduction,” state Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said.