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More Than 10,000 People Have Died From COVID-19 In LA County
File: A funeral in progress at Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights. Services at most cemeteries are discouraged or limit the number of guests that can attend. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
The death toll from COVID-19 in Los Angeles County has passed a grim new milestone.
Health officials on Wednesday reported a staggering 274 additional deaths, tipping the county total past 10,000. The new deaths include a backlog from a communications outage on Christmas Day.
But county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned that the rate of holiday travel — and the fact that many people are still getting together for the holidays — means many more deaths are likely in the new year:
"We all need to be prepared for another surge that will start with even higher case numbers in January. Increasing cases always translates to more and more people being rushed to already overcrowded hospitals, and tragically, also results in more people continuing to die."
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OVERALL LOOK AT LOS ANGELES COUNTY'S NUMBERS:
- 10,392 new cases
- 756,116 total cases
- 274 new deaths
- 10,056 total deaths
- 7,415 hospitalizations
Here's a look at longer-term trends in the county. To see more, visit our California COVID-19 Tracker and choose Los Angeles or any other county that interests you. These numbers are current as of Tuesday, Dec. 29:
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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