TORONTO -- As California continues to struggle to keep COVID-19 cases down, the Los Angeles Public Health Department has started a Twitter campaign to remind people of the deadly consequences that can come from not following guidelines.
"#Every10Minutes someone dies of COVID-19 in LA County," from L.A. Public Health, beginning the morning of Dec. 31.
Throughout Thursday, the health authority tweeted every 10 minutes about the stories of people who have died of COVID-19 in the county.
"The pharmacist whose hands ached at the end of every shift," reads .
"The guidance counselor who could tell when something was up," reads .
Each story about the loss of life is followed by of public health guidelines: "Please wear a face covering when outside. Slow the spread. Save a life."
On Dec. 31, L.A. County Public Health more than 15,000 new cases of COVID-19, with more than 770,600 cases reported since the beginning of the pandemic -- more than all of Canada’s cases despite having less than a third of Canada’s population. That same day, L.A. County also saw 290 deaths.
Hospitals across California continue to buckle under the influx of serious cases of COVID-19, with experts warning that if the state cannot get the spread of the virus under control, health-care professionals may be forced to start rationing care.
L.A. County Public Health ended the Twitter campaign Thursday night, , "With 2021 comes hope. We can end the pandemic, but it will take collective action."
