ICU demand in San Joaquin county reaches all-time high at 175% capacity
The intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity at hospitals in San Joaquin County is at an all-time high, according to the county’s emergency medical services agency.
In a press release sent out Monday afternoon, the agency wrote, “Demand for intensive care services is at an all-time high with adult intensive care units (ICU) operating at 175% of licensed bed capacity. San Joaquin County hospitals report 8 patient deaths due to COVID in the past 24 hours.”
ICU demand rose sharply over New Year’s weekend, the agency said, with 340 COVID-positive patients admitted county-wide. St. Joseph’s Medical Center is operating at 215% capacity with 84 patients; San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp is operating at 175% of licensed capacity with 28 patients, officials said.
California dentists given emergency waiver to administer COVID-19 vaccine
Tens of thousands of California dentists will be eligible to join the fight against the coronavirus after the Department of Consumer Affairs approved a public health emergency waiver allowing them to administer the vaccine to patients.
The waiver states, in part, “Pursuant to Executive Order N-39-20, the Director waives Business and Professions Code section 1625 to the extent it prohibits licensed dentists from independently initiating and administering COVID-19 vaccines that are approved or authorized by the federal Food and Drug Administration…”
California has approximately 36,000 licensed dentists. Eligible dentists would be required to complete training protocols set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Gov. Newsom provides updates on vaccine distribution, coronavirus numbers
Gov. Gavin Newsom provided updates on the state's response to COVID-19 on Monday, with specific focus on vaccine distribution and the potential for rising case numbers in the wake of holiday gatherings.
“This week is critical in terms of a bigger understanding of where we are and if we’re gonna hit that surge on top of a surge on top of yet another surge,” Newsom said.
Newsom said that roughly one third of all vaccines the state has received have been administered as part of the state's Phase 1A distribution. California has received 1,297,000 coronavirus vaccine doses scattered in cities and counties across the state, but the effort to vaccinate has lagged.
Breaking down what comes next for vaccine distribution, the governor explained who would be receiving the vaccine in the next phase. Whereas Phase 1A consists of roughly 3 million healthcare and frontline workers, Phase 1B will be roughly 8 million people. In tier one of Phase 1B are people 75 and older, teachers and educational workers, emergency service workers, and food and agriculture workers. Tier two is expected to see people 65 and older, people in congregate shelters, and more vaccinated.
Costume could be link to deadly virus outbreak at hospital
Kaiser Permanente says one employee is dead and dozens of workers are infected with the coronavirus after a staffer appeared at one of its Northern California medical centers wearing an inflatable holiday costume on Christmas Day.
Irene Chavez, senior vice president and area manager at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, said 44 staff members in the emergency department have tested positive for the virus since Dec. 27. Inflatable costumes usually rely on battery-operated fans to suck air in and keep its shape. COVID-19 spreads through droplets in the air, which is why investigators are looking into the functioning of the fan.
Veteran California Capitol worker dies from COVID-19
A veteran employee at the California state Capitol has died after contracting the coronavirus.
A memo from the secretary of the senate said Lawrence “Larry” Luna III died on Dec. 22, 2020, after a battle with COVID-19. The 58-year-old was the automotive pool manager for the Department of General Services at the Capitol garage. Luna's death came after state legislative leaders decided to delay their return to the state Capitol. Legislative leaders said that decision was made in part to keep staff in the Capitol as safe as possible. Lawmakers are scheduled to return to the Capitol on Jan. 11.
California Department of Public Health provides latest numbers
The California Department of Public Health released the state's latest COVID-19 numbers for Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.
The state currently sits at 2,420,894 total cases, with 26,635 total deaths.
The current ICU capacity by regions are:
- Greater Sacramento: 12.1%
- Northern California: 30%
- San Joaquin Valley: 0%
- Bay Area: 7.9%
- Southern California: 0%
California Gov. Gavin Newsom will provide an update on the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic at noon on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.
The state recorded 567 additional deaths over the weekend following the New Year's holiday, putting the state's coronavirus death toll over 26,500 and confirmed cases have neared 2.4 million since the pandemic began. The state Department of Public Health says California's swamped hospitals held 20,690 COVID-19 patients, including more than 4,500 in intensive care units as of Sunday.
Over the weekend, it was announced that the Greater Sacramento Region will continue to stay in the state's stay-at-home order due to low ICU capacity. The region's four-week projected ICU capacity does not meet the 15% threshold to end the order.
In hard-hit Los Angeles County, the total COVID-19 death toll reached 10,773 and confirmed cases topped 818,000. The county reports that more than 7,500 people are hospitalized, including 21% in ICUs.
Black California surgeon 'walks the walk' on virus vaccine
For Dr. David Tom Cooke, participating in the clinical trial for Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine was one step in his efforts to allay concerns about the vaccine's safety in the Black community.
Cooke, who is Black, is the head of general thoracic surgery at UC Davis Health and just one of many health care providers and community leaders who personally understand many Black Americans' skepticism toward the medical profession. He's now sharing details about his experience in an effort to build trust.
Black Americans have been hit harder by the coronavirus than others but are more likely to distrust the vaccine because of a history of poor health outcomes and abusive medical research.
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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