SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Update 4:51 p.m.) - California has reached 30,000 coronavirus deaths but there may be some light ahead.

The state reached the grim milestone Monday but Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state’s top health officer offered some hope, noting hospitalizations finally have leveled off in the last week. But they warn not to get complacent.

They say the peak of the holiday-driven surge is expected near the end of January.

Meanwhile, the pace of vaccinations in California will accelerate.

A center capable of providing vaccinations to 5,000 people per day opened Monday in San Diego. In Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium's parking lots will be converted into a massive vaccination center, as will fairgrounds in Sacramento and Fresno.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) - California has hit another grim coronavirus milestone.

Data from Johns Hopkins University on Monday showed the nation's most populous state has recorded more than 30,000 deaths since the pandemic started nearly a year ago.

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Deaths have exploded since a COVID-19 surge began in October.

It took the state six months to record its first 10,000 deaths. But in barely a month the total rose from 20,000 to 30,000.

Over the weekend, the state reported a two-day record of 1,163 deaths. Hospitalizations also have exploded and many hospitals are stretched to the limit. Health officials have warned the worst is yet to come later this month.