The opening of Community Hospital Long Beach stalled this week as the state’s final survey and inspection of the facility continues.

What is presumably the state’s final inspection of the 94-year-old facility began Tuesday and operator Molina, Wu, Network executives had hoped the hospital would begin receiving patients this week.

“We welcome and appreciate their diligence and attention to detail in the name of patient safety,” said spokesperson Brandon Dowling, adding that the team is “optimistic for an opening before the holiday.”

Since late March, the hospital operator has awaited state health department approval to reopen and alleviate the pressures the pandemic has placed on area hospitals. The group even went as far as hiring over 100 employees and purchasing millions of dollars worth of medical supplies in April.

The pending opening of the refurbished hospital would free up ICU beds at surrounding Long Beach area hospitals, which have been slammed by the worst coronavirus surge since the start of the pandemic. During a press conference Friday, Mayor Robert Garcia said ICU capacity at the five local hospitals is down to 10%.

On Thursday, state health officials announced Southern California ICU capacity is 0%, meaning bed availability is critically low. Los Angeles County announced that only 92 of its 2,500 ICU beds are available.

Community Hospital was shuttered in summer 2018 due to seismic concerns.

Editor’s note: John Molina of Molina, Wu, Network, is a principal investor in the parent company that owns the Long Beach Post.