Health officials in Los Angeles County are sounding the alarm for a sudden and rapid increase in new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, reports the LA Times.
Because it is important: The increase has the potential to overwhelm the area’s medical system, and health officials now project that Los Angeles County could run out of hospital beds in two to three weeks, according to the Times. The beds in the intensive care unit could reach their capacity sometime in July.
Between lines: The recent increase has coincided with the relaxation of restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the virus. California is in the third phase of Governor Gavin Newsom’s four-stage plan to reopen the state.
- The transmission rate has increased since the state began to relax the rules: in early May, each person who contracted the virus infected less than one person, on average. Now, each person with the virus infects an average of 1.26 people.
- Newsom on Sunday ordered Los Angeles County and six others to close bars amid the new surge in cases.
What they are saying “We are seeing an increase in transmission. We are seeing more people get sick and go to the hospital. This is largely a change in the trajectory of the epidemic in recent days. It’s a change for the worse and a cause for concern, ”said Christina Ghaly, director of health services for Los Angeles County.
- Assuming the transmission rate continues at the current rate, “we risk running out of hospital beds if we don’t take steps to increase that capacity in the next two to three weeks,” said Roger Lewis, COVID director. -19 Demand Modeling Unit for Los Angeles County.
- Lewis also noted that it can take three to four weeks after the initial exposure for patients to become ill enough to be hospitalized. “Therefore, even if steps are taken immediately to reduce the spread in the community, we expect to see a continued rebound in the next two to four weeks,” he added.
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