https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/15/coronavirus-california-passes-11000-deaths-amid-declining-hospitalizations/ > California passed 11,000 COVID-19 deaths on Friday as the virus’s deathly toll in the state continues to grow at a nearly record-high pace, even as hospitalizations declined in the state. > Counties reported 151 new COVID-19 fatalities Friday, bringing the state’s total to 11,149 deaths. The new fatalities were slightly higher than the state’s seven-day average the previous day of 139 daily fatalities, which is down slightly from a peak seven-day average of 145 daily fatalities set on August 6. California reached that grim new milestone just over a week after passing 10,000 fatalities on August 6, with the virus on track to be the third-leading cause of death in the state after only heart disease and cancer, compared to 2018 mortality data.