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Los Angeles County reported its deadliest day yet in the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday — and officials warn the toll will only continue to climb unless residents take steps to blunt the rampant surge.

The 145 additional deaths, which surpassed the previous daily high of 134 announced a week ago, came the day after the county officially hit another morbid milestone: surpassing 9,000 total coronavirus-related deaths.

Even before Wednesday’s record report, the county had averaged 85 COVID-19 deaths a day over the last week, an all-time high.

In early November, the county was averaging about 12 coronavirus-related deaths per day, according to Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

Read the full story at LATimes.com.