File photo: Xinhua 

LOS ANGELES, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the United States with a population of over 10 million, has exceeded the 100,000 mark, local authorities said Monday.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported a daily record of 2,903 new infections, the largest single-day count in the metropolitan area since the pandemic hit the country, bringing the total number to 100,772.

Public health officials also reported another 22 deaths related to COVID-19 in the county, taking its death toll from the disease to 3,326.

Key metrics continue to show steep increases in community spread. The seven-day average new daily reported cases of COVID-19 is nearly 2,000, an increase from the average of 1,379 two weeks ago. There are 1,710 people currently hospitalized, higher than the 1,350-1,450 daily hospitalizations seen in recent weeks, according to the daily update from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

"The alarming increases in cases, positivity rates and hospitalizations signals that we, as a community, need to take immediate action to slow the spread of COVID-19. Otherwise, we are quickly moving toward overwhelming our healthcare system and seeing even more devastating illness and death," Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said, noting that businesses must closely adhere to directives.

"For individuals, we are all still safer at home, but if you must be out, practice physical distancing and wear a cloth face covering at all times when you are around others. Our actions to slow the spread cannot wait -- we need to do these actions now and for the weeks ahead in order to prevent even more serious illness and death," Ferrer added.

The county accounts for nearly half of California's COVID-19 cases. The California Department of Public Health has reported 216,550 confirmed cases and 5,936 COVID-19 deaths to date.

California is one of a number of U.S. states which have seen COVID-19 cases jump in recent days.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said Monday that the state's response to COVID-19 is based on science.

"That's why we asked counties that are experiencing high transmission and positivity rates to close down bars & toggle back re-openings," he said in a tweet.

"We will continue to monitor counties across the state & take appropriate action when necessary," the governor warned.

Newsom ordered on Sunday seven counties, including Los Angeles, to close their bars and eight more counties are recommended to do so as COVID-19 cases spike in the most populous state in the United States.

Los Angeles County will close its beaches Friday in anticipation of the Fourth of July holiday, reported the Los Angeles Times on Monday, citing local officials.