Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
California Running Out Of Hospital Beds As Pandemic Spirals Out Of Control
The Washington Post: California Is Epicenter. Coronavirus Cases, Hospitalizations And Deaths Surging. The Worst Is Yet To Come
California — the country’s most populous and richest state — is the new epicenter of the U.S. coronavirus crisis, with unprecedented surges of seriously infected patients threatening to overwhelm hospitals and overflow morgues. The state is reporting unnerving numbers: California has set nationwide records for new cases again and again in the past week — most recently on Thursday, when it posted more than 50,000 infections, over 100,000 in 48 hours. If California were a country, it would be among the world leaders in new coronavirus cases, ahead of India, Germany and Britain. And the state’s test positivity rate continues to climb, meaning the virus is spreading faster. The rate is now 11.5 percent, more than twice what experts consider high-risk. (Thebault, 12/17)
The New York Times: In California, Counting The Dead By The Hour
Just two weeks ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom warned Californians that the state’s intensive care beds might be full before Christmas. Now, it appears that dire projection is being borne out. How bad is the coronavirus surge in California? In Los Angeles County, officials say, an average of two people are dying every hour. And one in every 80 people there is thought to be infected. (Tumin and Cowan, 12/18)
NPR: California Activates 'Mass Fatality' Program As State Sets New Virus Records
Confirmed coronavirus infections and virus-related deaths are soaring in California, the nation's most populous state, setting new records as hospitals struggle to keep up with the onslaught of cases. It has prompted the state to activate its "mass fatality" program, which coordinates mutual aid across several governmental agencies. On Thursday, California reported 52,281 new daily confirmed coronavirus cases and 379 new virus-related deaths, according to state data. This brings the state's total number of cases to more than 1.7 million, with 21,860 deaths since the pandemic began. (Booker, 12/17)
AP: Hot Spot: California Hospitals Buckle As Virus Cases Surge
“I’ve seen more deaths in the last nine months in my ICU than I have in my entire 20-year career,” said Amy Arlund, a nurse at Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center. While the surging virus has pushed hospitals elsewhere around the country to the breaking point in recent weeks, the crisis is deepening with alarming speed in California, even as the nationwide rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations this week and the impending release of a second vaccine have boosted hopes of eventually defeating the scourge. (Durkin Richer and Atnczak, 12/17)
Los Angeles Times: Southern California ICU Beds At 0% Amid COVID-19 Surge
The availability of intensive care unit beds throughout Southern California hit 0% Thursday, and officials warned that conditions in hospitals are expected to erode further if the coronavirus continues to spread unchecked. With ICUs filled, hospitals will step up measures to ensure the sickest patients still get the highest levels of care possible. That often means moving some patients who would typically be in the intensive care unit to other areas of the hospital, such as a recovery area, or keeping them in the emergency room for longer than normal. (Money, Lin II and Karlamangla, 12/17)
