A number of Covid-1 patients were hospitalized this weekend in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, and space in intensive care units in the state was hit by dangerous bottoms, hitting high for new coronavirus cases.
The figures paint a grim picture of people just two weeks before Christmas, when holiday travel could increase despite warnings from public health officials.
COVID-19 in Orange County on Sunday and 4,009 people in Los Angeles on Friday were hospitalized, according to the latest available numbers – both record highs. San Francisco, which was the front-runner in coronavirus testing, reported 323 new cases on Saturday.
Intensive care units in Southern California have a capacity of only 4.5% as of Sunday, down from a statewide level of 7.4%, according to the California Department of Public Health, with the highest capacity in Northern California at 29%, while San Joaquin The valley is only 1.5%.
If the ICU Death rates could rise if patients are no longer included. The shortage is less about physical space and more about the shortage of specially trained nurses to provide 24-hour care. The state’s stay-at-home order came into effect when ICU capacity fell below 15% in many regions.
These solid numbers come as the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine was shipped from a Michigan factory on Sunday by Fisher and Bioentech on Sunday.
“This is the beginning of the end,” Governor Gavin News tweeted about the vaccine shipment on Sunday. “Let’s crush this curve and finish the finish line.”
Still, public health officials say people need to wear masks and practice distance. Scientists do not yet know that the vaccine prevents the spread of the disease, and only a small amount will be available initially.
California is preparing to receive approximately 327,000 doses in its initial batch, which will be given to health care workers at direct risk of exposure to COVD-19. The state could receive 2 million doses of the vaccine by the end of the month, which would help vaccinate 2.4 million healthcare workers in the state.
It could be spring or summer before the general public gets the COVID-19 vaccine, public health officials said.
Times staff writers Ben Welsh and Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.
