In a few days, LA County is expected to exceed 10,000 COVID-19-related deaths. Recently, the county took new action and forced all travelers to quarantine for 10 days. The region reports a 600% increase in COVID-19-related deaths since November.
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“On average, nine to ten people in LA County test positive for COVID-19 every minute,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the county’s director of public health.
Over the weekend, 96% of Los Angeles County hospitals had no space for emergency patients. Many facilities have problems due to lack of space. Members of the medical community are concerned that not only are beds being made to treat patients with COVID, but they are also those in need of other medical care.
“We’re coming to a crisis in Los Angeles County, where the hospitals are full. So one of the most important things to understand is that if you get it, it’s going to be a challenge. There’s no room in the inn,” he said. he said. Dra. Marianne Gausche-Hill with the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency.
SEE: LA hospitals run out of space to treat patients with COVID and other diseases
California Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mark Ghaly said Tuesday that Los Angeles County hospitals are turning to “crisis care” and preparing for a new wave toward the new year.
“We certainly know that hospitals in Southern California are in crisis and some have begun to implement parts of care in crisis,” he said.
State officials warned hospitals Monday afternoon that they should prepare for the possibility of resorting to the crisis care guidelines set out earlier in the pandemic, which allow for rationing of treatment when staff, the medicine and supplies are scarce.
Health care decisions cannot be made based on factors such as income, age, or gender, but are primarily based on “the likelihood of survival in the short term,” said Kim McCoy Wade, director of the department of California Aging
Ghaly warned that there could be a “significant rise” in Southern California in January.
MORE: Who will get the COVID-19 vaccine in California?
As the virus increases nationwide, just over 2 million doses of vaccine have been administered. The White House task force is pushing its goal of vaccinating 20 million Americans by the end of the year through January. Now, a fifth vaccine is entering phase 3 testing.
But the implementation of vaccines has not been without difficulties. A Milwaukee pharmacy was forced to throw away 50 vials (equivalent to 500 doses) of the Modern vaccine after they were removed from the refrigerator and inadvertently damaged.
The facility, Aurora Medical Center, issued the following statement:
“Although part of the vaccine was administered to team members on December 26 within the approved window 12 hours after refrigeration, unfortunately most had to be discarded due to storage requirements. of temperature necessary to maintain its viability “.
In New York, there is a criminal investigation after ParCare Community Health allegedly diverted vaccine doses to more than 850 people who were not on the priority list. The facility said it is actively collaborating with the investigation.
“We will not tolerate any fraud in the vaccination process,” said Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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