(Fighting new crown pneumonia) California's new crown epidemic is gradually easing, nearly 7 million doses of vaccine have been vaccinated

　　China News Service, San Francisco, February 20. After experiencing a surge in new crown cases in the winter, the number of new cases and hospitalizations in a single day in California, the United States, has continued to decline recently.

At the same time, residents of the state have received nearly 7 million doses of the new crown vaccine.

　　San Jose's "Mercury News" epidemic tracking data showed that on the 19th, California counties reported 7,621 new cases.

The average number of new cases in the state fell to 7,081 on the 7th, the lowest level since California entered the winter surge on November 12.

Since the beginning of this year, the average daily number of new cases in California has fallen by 82%.

The number of new coronary patients hospitalized in the state on the 19th was 7,514, a significant drop from the peak of nearly 22,000 in early January.

On the 18th, the number of new crown patients in California's intensive care unit fell to 2,207.

At the beginning of January, nearly 5,000 new crown patients were treated in the intensive care unit.

In Los Angeles County, where the epidemic is most severe, as of the 19th, there are 2,369 new crown patients in hospitals, a drop of nearly 44% from two weeks ago.

Data map: On February 16, local time, the mass vaccination station set up in Oakland Stadium, California, was opened to qualified people.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Guanguan

　　At the same time, the number of people vaccinated against the new coronavirus in California continues to grow.

As of the 18th, in California, which has a population of nearly 40 million, local residents have received nearly 6.93 million doses of vaccine, accounting for 78.5% of the total vaccine received in the state.

According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, the large supermarket chain Costco announced on the 20th that it will begin to provide residents with a new crown vaccine in parts of California.

　　Despite the overall improvement of the epidemic, the death toll from new coronary pneumonia in California is still high.

On the 19th, a total of 479 new coronary pneumonia deaths were reported in various counties, and the average number of deaths on the 7th was 340.

　　In addition, the spread of multiple mutant viruses also worries California officials.

"Los Angeles Times" reported that Los Angeles County public health officials recorded two cases of infection with the mutant virus first discovered in the UK on the 20th.

The county has currently recorded 14 cases of infection with this mutant virus, but experts say this number may actually be higher.

This mutant virus has spread to at least 42 states in the United States.

Experts predict that by the end of March it may become the main strain spreading in the United States.

　　Although studies have shown that vaccines on the market are still effective against this mutant virus, some officials worry that its high infectivity may trigger a new surge in cases.

If the comprehensive vaccination campaign progresses slowly, and people are getting tired and ignoring safety guidelines, the possibility of a new wave of cases will increase.

　　At present, the severe cold weather in some parts of the United States has forced the delivery of vaccines to California to be interrupted, and the vaccinations originally scheduled for this weekend in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego have also been postponed.

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