2020 will remain in history as one of the most controversial years. Even with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines in Europe, the USA, Canada, and other countries, the pandemic is still pretty active. Furthermore, a significant part of the world’s population doesn’t want to get vaccinated.
Southern California is confronting with a major stay-at-home order issued to limit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus among the residents. The restrictions include the forbidding of most gatherings, reduced capacity of retail stores, as well as closure of businesses like nail salons, hair salons, zoos, and museums. But the order will most likely remain active in 2021 as well.
The number of ICU beds is approaching a critical point
Latimes.com writes that Southern California along with other areas, will continue the stay-at-home order several weeks from now, although the initial intention was to stop the restrictions on Monday. The reason is simple: the recent surge of the COVID-19 infections is pushing hospitals to their capacity limit.
The state guidance reveals that the harsh restrictions will remain active until the projected ICU capacity of the region is equal to or exceeds 15%. Barbara Ferrer, a Public Health Director, declared:
Our hospitals are already over capacity, and the high-quality medical care we’re accustomed to in L.A. County is beginning to be compromised as our frontline healthcare workers are beyond stretched to the limit.
California remains the hardest-hit American state by the ongoing pandemic, where there’s a total of over 2.1 million cases and more than 24,000 deaths. Things continue to look awful for the entire country, considering the reported overall numbers: 19.6 million infections and over 341,000 deaths. With both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines approved and rolling out in the US, the expectations are very high and optimistic. Almost two million Americans already got vaccinated for COVID-19.
