SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California will deploy more than 1200 medical personnel to help battle COVID-19 in communities across the state.
The state, through the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the Health and Human Services Agency, has deployed 1,280 medical professionals to healthcare facilities around the golden state.
The deployments are part of a larger effort by the state to help relieve the stress on the medical care system while healthcare facilities are strained due to the pandemic.
“Strengthening the public health workforce is critical to our ability to protect lives during this latest wave of COVID-19 cases," said Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. "These deployments are an important first step in helping health facilities get the staffing resources they need."
The personnel will help ensure healthcare staffing for hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities.
“Maintaining appropriate staffing in healthcare facilities is essential to providing a safe work environment for healthcare personnel while also maintaining high-quality medical care for patients across the state,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency.
Stay-at-home order likely to be extended for Greater Sacramento Region
The California Department of Public Health [CDPH] believes the stay-at-home order for the Greater Sacramento Region is likely to be extended. The Greater Sacramento Region was originally eligible to exit the order as early as Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021.
"While the Greater Sacramento region’s daily current ICU capacity numbers have been relatively consistent at approximately 14%, early projections over the next four weeks show ICU capacity is likely to drop," state officials said in a press release.
Official projects and an announcement is likely to come within the next few days.
Sacramento County's public health order will remain in effect, independent of the state's health order, according to public health officials.
The order originally went into effect on December 10. Officials say it will remain in effect until it is rescinded or amended by a county health officer.
The state became the third in the U.S. to reach the number, behind New York and Texas.
The grim milestone comes as the state experiences a surge that has swamped hospitals with COVID-19 patients in Southern California and the agricultural San Joaquin Valley.
Hospitals are housing patients in hallways, conference rooms, a cafeteria and gift shops. Makeshift hospitals are being set up in tents, arenas and schools.
Here are the most recent coronavirus case numbers:
Total cases: 2,245,379 total
27,237 today
1.2% increase from prior day total
Total deaths: 25,386 total
428 today
1.7% increase from prior day total
Total tests: 32,855,482 total
232,406 today
0.7% increase from prior day total
ICU capacity by region:
- Greater Sacramento Region: 14.4% (down from 17.4%)
- Northern California: 34.1% (up from 31.5%)
- San Joaquin Valley: 0% (static)
- Bay Area: 8.5% (up from 7.5%)
- Southern California: 0% (static)
Multi-agency team to help several counties with hospitals strained by pandemic
A new multi-agency state technical assistance team will start to assist several counties in California, including San Joaquin, as hospital systems continue to be strained during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those counties include Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino as well as San Joaquin.
The multi-agency team is made of representatives from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) and the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD).
“Supporting our local partners as they face complex challenges within their hospital systems is the top priority for the state technical assistance team,” said Cal OES Assistant Director of Response Sherri Sarro in a press release. “As COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise, easing the strain on overwhelmed hospitals is essential for healthcare workers and the communities they serve.”
Team members will coordinate with local officials to assess the county's current situation, identify needs, mitigate issues, decide the best course of action and support each county's hospital systems.
New public health officer for Nevada County
Nevada County announced the addition of Dr. Scott Kellermann as its newest public health officer, according to a press release from the county.
Dr. Kellermann joins the county on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021.
“I look forward to engaging in public health in Nevada County, particularly with an immunization campaign to end the current COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Kellermann said in a press release. “I look forward to giving back to Nevada County the kindness and generosity that has been shown to me.”
Tribal casinos to ring in 2021 as virus spreads
California's tribal casinos are drawing customers even as Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered extraordinary limitations on other businesses amid a spike in coronavirus cases that has overwhelmed hospitals throughout the state. Self-governing tribal casinos have largely kept intact safety rules they adopted since reopening in the spring, though some have canceled New Year's Eve celebrations.
“Stay home orders” in effect since Dec. 3 for other businesses prohibit on-site dining, close gyms and cardrooms, restrict hotel reservations and limit capacity to 20% at retail stores.
More contagious variant hit California
A more contagious variant of the coronavirus has been found in California, where state health officials are warning people to avoid New Year's Eve gatherings. They say people could face the threat that hospitals will be overwhelmed by a third virus surge within weeks. A 30-year-old San Diego County man was found to have the variant Wednesday. Meanwhile, Los Angeles County hit a grim milestone as the state's most populous county recorded more than 10,000 deaths.
Authorities say another surge in hospitalizations and deaths could come if people ignore social distancing. Los Angeles police plan to enforce health rules on New Year's Eve.
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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