California soon to pass New York as US state with most Covid deaths

State has seen 44,494 fatalities as of Tuesday as it averages 450 deaths a day, with Los Angeles hit hardest

California is set to surpass New York as the US state with the most coronavirus deaths, a grim reminder of the pandemic's toll even as the vaccine rollout and a dramatic drop in new cases offer hope that life will eventually return to normal.

Fatalities from Covid-19 reached 44,494 on Tuesday in California, the most populous US state. In New York, which was particularly hard hit in the pandemic's early days, the total death toll stood at 44,969 on Tuesday.