Local health officials on Monday said just 95 intensive care unit beds remain available throughout Los Angeles County—including surge capacity—marking the second time in a week that number has dipped below 100.
Across LA County, there are now 883 coronavirus patients in the ICU, where the sickest people receive treatment, and 1,560 patients being treated for other conditions. One month ago, on Nov. 14, the number of COVID-19 patients in the ICU was 294.
“We have to brace ourselves that this case volume has not yet reached a peak and will keep growing,” Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of the Department of Health Services, said Monday.
A total of 4,203 people are now hospitalized in the county for coronavirus, with 839 regular beds currently available, including added surge space. The number of hospitalizations is expected to climb to over 5,000 by next week, officials said, which would bring facilities close to full capacity. There are a total of about 17,000 non-ICU beds in LA County.
Of the available ICU beds, 56 are adult beds and 39 are pediatric, according to county data released on Monday. Across all of Southern California, the available ICU capacity is down to 2.7%, according to state numbers.
Locally, hospitals have implemented surge plans, including setting up outdoor tents to triage patients and screen them, and have set up quarantine areas for the homeless and health care workers at some facilities.
Hospitals are not being required to cancel elective surgeries, but at least one local facility, Long Beach Memorial, has taken this step to preserve space.
Ghaly asked that people who require medical care that doesn’t rise to the level of a serious emergency consider going elsewhere, such as visiting a personal medical provider or going to an urgent care facility. She says people in need of serious emergency care should still call 911 or visit an emergency room.
The rise in hospitalizations is being driven by young people contracting the virus and passing it on to older, more vulnerable people, officials said, emphasizing the ripple effect those who eschew health orders can have.
The bulk of new cases has been among people under 50, yet the rise is hospitalizations is predominantly among those over 65.
The steepest rise in new cases is among those 30-49, followed by those age 18-29.
Yet the bulk of admissions to the ICU is being borne by older residents.
“If you’re not playing by the rules, at this point you’re part of the problem,” said Barbara Ferrer, director of the county Department of Public Health.
Ferrer announced today that another 7,344 people tested positive for COVID-19, however that number was artificially low because of a reporting lag by one of the county’s largest labs.
Another 48 people died of the virus, a number officials fear will grow as the huge caseloads being seen over the past few weeks progress.
More than 500,000 cases have been reported since March, with the recent surge dwarfing the surge seen last summer. There has been a 625% increase in cases since the week of Nov. 8—and that percentage doesn’t include the caseloads over the past week, which have averaged about 10,000 new cases per day.
Monday’s dismal news came on the same day as the first vaccine was administered to patients across the country, including a nurse in Los Angeles.
Ferrer warned the public that the arrival of the vaccine will do nothing to stop the current surge. The only way, she said, is to stay home whenever possible and wear a face covering when you must go out for essential activities.