For weeks public health and state officials have warned that Central and Southern California hospitals are quickly running out of intensive care unit beds for coronavirus patients ahead of a presumed post-holiday surge. But what exactly does it mean to be at 0% ICU capacity?
San Joaquin County’
For weeks public health and state officials have warned that Central and Southern California hospitals are quickly running out of intensive care unit beds for coronavirus patients ahead of a presumed post-holiday surge. But what exactly does it mean to be at 0% ICU capacity?
San Joaquin County s seven hospitals have 99 licensed ICU beds, according to the county s Emergency Medical Services Agency. On Tuesday, the county was at 155% capacity of those beds, with hospitals having to add an additional 54 to accommodate the surge in ICU patients. That number dropped to 53 overflow beds by Wednesday afternoon, EMS reported.
While the county is technically over its ICU capacity, EMS spokeswoman Marissa Matta said that doesn t mean hospitals will run out of beds. But she also said that current capacity levels are still a reason for serious concern.