'Surge on top of a surge' to challenge California hospitals | COVID-19 updates for Northern California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — 'Surge on top of a surge' to challenge California hospitals

As coronavirus hospitalizations stabilize in parts of California, patients continue to overwhelm hospitals in a large swath of the state. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom warned residents Monday to brace for the impact of surge upon surge from recent holiday travel. 

Intensive care units in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley have no capacity remaining. 

In a Stanislaus County, part of the San Joaquin Valley, there are only two staffed adult ICU beds available, according to Bobby Moser, with Stanislaus County Health Services Agency. He said a spike of COVID-19 cases followed by a spike in hospitalizations is still expected following the holidays.

Newsom said it was self-evident his stay-home order would be extended Tuesday in most of the state. Newsom said the state is heading into a new phase it's been preparing for as it sets up hospital beds in arenas, schools and tents, though it is struggling to staff them.

Doctors, health workers could lose licenses if they don't follow vaccine order:

During a press conference Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom mentioned that if medical professionals, health officers or other people administering COVID-19 vaccines don't follow the vaccine hierarchy, they could lose their licenses.

"If you don't follow the order or protocol, you will not just lose your reputation, but you will lose your licenses as well," Gov. Newsom said.

As the subsequent phases bring millions more Californians into the fold of getting vaccines, doctors should still follow the procedures and guidelines of who should be getting the vaccines. Gov. Newsom said that the state is working with county partners to ensure things are going as they should at the local level as far as vaccine distribution.

Dr. Mark Ghaly also added that the California Department of Public Health is the one that puts all the providers into the system to allocate vaccine doses. He said if doctors and providers are not following the guidelines and protocols, the CDPH can also decide to not provide vaccines to the providers that are not following the rules.

Gov. Newsom said that the guidelines and protocols for enforcement of this will be released in the coming weeks.

Next groups to be vaccinated in California announced:

Gov. Gavin Newsom went into detail about the next groups of people who will get the COVID-19 vaccines in California during a press conference on Monday. 

The Community Vaccine Advisory Committee discussed those going into Phases 1B and 1C of vaccine distribution at the last meeting on Dec. 23. Phase 1B will likely be approved at the next meeting on Dec. 30.

Phase 1B:

• Tier 1:
  • People ages 75 and older
  • Workers in education, childcare and emergency services
  • Food and agriculture workers
• Tier 2:
  • People ages 65 and older with underlying health conditions and/or disabilities
  • Workers in transportation and logistics
    • Industrial, residential and commercial sectors
    • Critical manufacturing
  • Incarcerated individuals
  • Homeless and unhoused individuals

Phase 1C will go into consideration and will be up for discussion at the next meeting on Dec. 30.

Phase 1C:

• People ages 16-64 with underlying health conditions and/or disabilities
• Workers in water and waste management
  • Defense, energy, chemical and hazardous waste
• Communication and IT
  • Those in high impact and high contact groups
• Financial services
• Government operations and community service

ICU Capacity for Monday, Dec. 28 

The latest ICU capacity by regions are:

• Greater Sacramento Region: 16.6% (down from 17.8%)
• San Joaquin Valley: 0% (static)
• Bay Area: 9.5% (down from 11.1%)
• Northern California: 29.3% (up from 28.3%)
• Southern California: 0% (static)

Folsom Fire Chief Cusano tests positive for coronavirus 

The Folsom Fire Department said in a statement that Chief Ken Cusano has tested positive for COVID-19 as of Sunday. 

Chief Cusano was reportedly experiencing symptoms over the weekend and is now quarantining with his household family, who have all also been tested. A spokesperson for the department said that no one in the workplace was exposed. 

More than 2 million cases of coronavirus confirmed in California

New numbers from state officials show that 2,155,976 Californians are confirmed to have COVID-19.

The numbers, released Monday, also report that in total 24,284 people have died from the virus. That number is a 0.3 percent increase from Sunday. 

Total cases: 2,155,976 total
33,170 today
1.6% increase from prior day total

Total deaths: 24,284 total
64 today
0.3% increase from prior day total

Total tests: 332,128,516 total
301,820 today
0.9% increase from prior day total

California has seen its number of cases climb exponentially in recent weeks, overwhelming hospitals, and public officials are begging people to stay home and not mingle for New Year's to avoid yet another surge. 

CORONAVIRUS AND VACCINE RESOURCES AND ANSWERS:

• San Joaquin County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
• Yolo County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
• Stanislaus County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
• Sacramento County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
• Q&A: Why wear a mask after you've been vaccinated?
• Can my employer require the COVID-19 vaccine? | Q&A with workers rights attorney
• Q&A: How do the COVID-19 vaccines work? Are they like the flu vaccine, will there be side effects?

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