SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Los Angeles County surpassed 10,000 deaths from the coronavirus as California also hit a record high number of fatalities.

California has 2,218,142 confirmed cases of COVID-19, resulting in 24,958 deaths.

The number of COVID-related deaths increased by 1.8% from the prior day total of 24,526, as of Dec. 30, according to the state's dashboard.

The state also reported its first detected case of the new and apparently more contagious variant of the coronavirus, in a San Diego man.

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Los Angeles County Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer called the 10,056 deaths there a “terrible milestone.” Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state recorded an “unprecedented” high of 432 deaths Wednesday.

Hospitals, particularly in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley, are increasingly stretched by soaring infections that are expected to grow in the coming weeks.

In the North State, Butte County recorded six additional deaths on Wednesday.