California has become the second state in the US to top 1 million Covid-19 cases after Texas.
More than 5,000 new cases and 18 new deaths have been reported so far on Thursday, for a total of 1,000,631 confirmed cases and 18,126 deaths statewide, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Hospitalizations and ICU admissions in the state have seen a sharp increase since November 1. As of Wednesday, hospitalizations jumped from 3,241 to 4,002, and ICU admissions jumped from 823 to 1,010, according to state data.
Infectious disease expert Dr. John Swartzberg said on Thursday that the state is headed for “a very dark winter,” and criticized people for not wearing masks or not following social distancing guidelines.
“We’re projected to have another 160,000 dead Americans if people just continue to wear the masks the same rate they’re wearing them, the social distancing just like they’re doing now,” he said, according to CBS Los Angeles.
