California sees two-day record of coronavirus deaths

A mid-turbinate nasal swab PCR test is administered at a same-day coronavirus testing site in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. Los Angeles is the epicenter of California’s surge that is expected to get worse in coming weeks when another spike is expected after people traveled or gathered for Christmas and New Year’s. | AP

LOS ANGELES — California health authorities have reported a record two-day total of 1,042 coronavirus deaths as many hospitals strain under unprecedented caseloads

The state Department of Public Health’s website on Thursday lists 583 new deaths, a day after 459 deaths.

The previous two-day record total was 1,013 deaths at the end of December.

California’s death toll since the start of the pandemic now stands at 28,045.