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Intensive care units across California are overflowing this weekend as Govt-19 cases and hospital admissions continue to rise at an alarming rate.
Hospitals in the Valley of San Joaquin, the state’s agricultural hub, announced on Saturday that its ICU bed capacity had dropped to zero for the first time. The region’s efficiency returned to 1.5% on Monday, but the situation is dangerous.
Overall ICU capacity across California fell to 7.4 percent on Monday as hospital admissions hit record highs. Meanwhile, infections continued to increase. More than 33,000 new cases have been reported statewide nationwide in the past 24 hours, despite more than 77% of the state being under regional shelter orders, hoping to ease the pressure on the extended slender health system.
Governor Gavin Newsome was particularly concerned when the decision was made to implement the new shelter, as rural areas of California already operate on a wider and more widespread health system than the more populous areas of the state. Home order earlier this month.
One in 10 residents of the San Joaquin Valley who took the Govt test tested positive. Districts in the region were nearing or filling capacity for ICUs this weekend – there were no ICU beds in San Benito County, and six beds in San Joaquin County. There were 10 ICU beds for 900,000 counties in Kern County and three beds in Kings County.
Office of the Governor of California
(GoGgovernor)The statewide ICU capacity is less than 10%.
We are at a critical moment.
Invites All Californians – Stay Home & Wear Lives to Save Lives.
All hands on deck with our health and emergency teams when we face a capacity crisis. pic.twitter.com/gj53eGKKlG
Los Angeles County, the country’s most populous district, broke the record for admission to the Corona virus hospital on Sunday, with more than 4,000 people hospitalized for Covit-19. The Southern California region currently has an ICU capacity of 4.2%.
Regional shelter restrictions came into effect last week for nearly 23 million residents in the Southern California region and 4.4 million residents in the San Joaquin Valley region, as ordered by Newsom. 3.5 million residents in the Greater Sacramento region reached the threshold on Thursday – when hospital ICU beds in the region dropped by 15%, the orders came into effect region-wise. In the Bay Area, five districts voluntarily imposed shelter restrictions before falling below 15% in their region.
Across California, public health officials report rates of infections that have not been seen before. With more than 1.5m of cases and more than 21,000 deaths reported in California, the numbers are expected to continue to rise. Public health officials had expected an increase to come with the flu season and the Thanksgiving trip, but the numbers are interfering, though. “This has been a very challenging moment since the onset of this epidemic,” Newsom said last week.
The arrival of infections in California’s health system is further complicated by residents and local authorities who do not want to follow public health orders to prevent the spread of the virus.
“There is zero evidence that activities in California businesses, restaurants, gyms and hair salons have any impact or lead to any current uprising with Govt-19,” local Fresno district legislator Steve Brandow said in a video after his county was locked. “The world is seeing an upsurge. Tightly locked European nations are seeing an upsurge. U.S. states like Florida that do not lock in are seeing an upsurge. Does it really do anything or does it make itself feel better about our sun king governor? ”
Fresno County, which has had public health reporting issues from local leadership since the outbreak, now has only 13 ICU beds for more than 999,000 counties. Brando was one of several local officials who signed with Covid-19 after attending an election dinner.
In San Diego, Newsom issued a suspension letter to the two clubs, which continued to operate. “Businesses and individuals who fail to comply with the required public health measures pose a risk to public health and pose a serious risk to all Californians,” wrote Patty Lee, California’s deputy attorney general.
Office of the Governor of California
(GoGgovernor)COVID-19 is widespread and requires Californians to reduce compounding by staying at home.
By ignoring medical professionals, they endanger lives and put more pressure on our hospitals.
We have announced a stop and departure for 2 clubs in San Diego. Additional action to follow. pic.twitter.com/DaiAIjaGW9
The health struggles in California came as she became the first California ICU nurse to receive the Covit-19 vaccine. Helen Cordova received the Pfizer vaccine at the Kaiser Permanent Los Angeles Medical Center and was with Newsom for the historic event. Set to receive an initial dose of 325,000 for the California vaccine. “Hope has come,” The The governor tweeted.
Office of the Governor of California
(GoGgovernor)Helen was one of the first # COVID-19 Vaccination in CA. Today the equitable and safe administration of vaccines begins with health care workers and Californians in long-term care settings.
Until it becomes widespread, we must all stop spreading. Stay at home. Wear a mask. Save lives. pic.twitter.com/esrYAwGX9i