“There will be massive changes when your number is smaller to begin with,” Relucio explained. “What is happening is maybe there is a discharge – someone going down to a normal floor (of the hospital) or a death.”
California is experiencing statewide growth, Relucio said, adding that several regions of the state have remained at 0% ICU capacity sometimes for days, even extending into stripes for a week. The Bay Area reported Friday’s ICU capacity at 3%, the lowest to date.
“I’m not surprised, given the number of cases I’ve had,” Relucio said. “In December, we had 2,500 cases – a month before, 1,200. So it’s more than doubled. “
On Friday, Queen of the Valley Medical Center officially re-established its respiratory triage area with tents, Herold said, where people experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19 can be evaluated and hospitalized. The hospital previously erected a sorting area in the middle of the early spring blockages, although it was later removed after limited use. The triage area is essentially an extension of a waiting area, Herold explained. No patient receives long-term care in the tent.
The county was preparing for additional cases and hospitalizations born as a result of holiday meetings, according to Relucio.
This latest increase has occurred even though the Napa coronavirus test structure appears to be working in shape and starting in the last few weeks; residents reported waiting times of two to three hours in the last week of the year, the Registry reported earlier, after OptumServe, a new test provider, took over operations.