Within days, LA County is expected to exceed 10,000 COVID-19-related deaths. The county recently took further steps, requiring all travelers to be quarantined for 10 days. The region reports a 600% increase in COVID-19-related deaths since November.
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“On average, nine to 10 people in LA County test positive for COVID-19 every minute,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, county director of public health.
Over the weekend, 96% of hospitals in LA County did not have rooms for emergency patients. Many facilities are experiencing difficulties due to lack of space. Members of the medical community are concerned because they are not only running out of beds to treat COVID patients – but also because they need other medical care.
“We are coming to a crisis in Los Angeles County, where hospitals are overbooked. So one of the most important things to understand is that, if you understand, it will be a challenge. There is no space at the inn,” said Dr. Marianne Gausche-Hill with the LA County Emergency Medical Services Agency.
WATCH: LA Hospitals Running Out of Space to Treat Patients with COVID and Other Diseases
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said on Tuesday that Los Angeles County hospitals are turning to “crisis care” and preparing for another increase earlier this year.
“We certainly know that Southern California hospitals are in crisis, and some have started implementing parts of crisis treatment,” he said.
State officials notified hospitals on Monday night that they must prepare for the possibility of having to resort to the “crisis care” guidelines established at the beginning of the pandemic, which allow rationing of treatment when staff, drugs are lacking and supplies.
Medical care decisions cannot be made based on factors such as income, age or sex, but rather based on “short-term survival probability,” said Kim McCoy Wade, director of the California Department of Aging.
Ghaly warned that a “significant increase” could reach southern California in January.
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As the virus increases across the country, just over 2 million doses of vaccine have been administered. The White House task force is pushing its goal of vaccinating 20 million Americans by the end of the year through January. A fifth vaccine is now entering phase 3 trials.
But the vaccine was launched without difficulties. A pharmacy in Milwaukee was forced to throw away 50 vials – equivalent to 500 doses – of the Modern vaccine after they were inadvertently removed from the refrigerator and spoiled.
The facility, Aurora Medical Center, released the following statement:
“Although part of the vaccine was administered to team members on December 26 within the approved 12-hour post-refrigeration window, unfortunately most of it had to be discarded due to the storage temperature requirements necessary to maintain its viability.”
In New York, a criminal investigation is underway after ParCare Community Health reportedly diverted doses of the vaccine to more than 850 people who were not on the priority list. The facility said it is actively cooperating with the investigation.
“We will not tolerate any fraud in the vaccination process,” said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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