California COVID-19 deaths near 90,000, but per capita rate among lowest in U.S.

LOS ANGELES — California’s COVID-19 death toll is on the cusp of 90,000, a tally that comes as the U.S. is nearing its own milestone of 1 million deaths.

As of Friday, California had reported 89,851 cumulative deaths since the start of the pandemic, up 269 from the previous week. At this pace, the state is likely to surpass 90,000 COVID-19 fatalities this week.

No state has suffered more total pandemic-related deaths than California. However, on a per capita basis, California has the 11th-lowest cumulative COVID-19 death rate — with 229.5 deaths for every 100,000 residents, according to data compiled by the Los Angeles Times. Roughly a year ago, a similar analysis revealed California had the 22nd-lowest cumulative COVID-19 death rate of any state.

California also now has the lowest cumulative COVID-19 death rate of the nation’s 10 most populous states. By comparison, the cumulative COVID-19 death rate in Florida is 359.4 per 100,000 residents. In New York, it’s 348.8; and in Texas, it’s 316.1.

The worst rate can be found in Arizona, where the total reported death toll — just under 30,200 — amounts to 434.6 fatalities for every 100,000 residents. If Arizona had experienced California’s same death rate, about 14,000 fewer people would’ve died from COVID-19 to this point. And if California had Arizona’s death rate, the Golden State would’ve seen 170,000 people perish from COVID-19, instead of the nearly 90,000 reported so far.

The wide divergence in death rates demonstrates just how differently the pandemic has played out in varying corners of the country. California, for example, has one of the nation’s better vaccination rates — with 72% of residents of all ages having completed their primary vaccination series. In Arizona, 62% of residents have done likewise, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Of vaccinated adults who have completed their primary vaccination series, 56% in California have received their first booster shot, while 45% have done so in Arizona. Health officials have routinely said getting vaccinated and boosted provides robust protection against the worst of COVID-19. According to the most recent data from the California Department of Public Health, unvaccinated residents remain roughly nine times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those who

have been fully vaccinated

and boosted.

IRFAN KHAN/LOS ANGELES TIMES Stephanie Reyes, center, who lost her husband to COVID-19 in September 2021, is comforted by her daughters, Marissa Reyes, left, and Reyna Reyes, at their home in Menifee.