A tsunami of coronavirus cases has hit Southern California including Riverside County and the outlook does not appear to be getting better. Today, the number of available ICU beds in Riverside County dropped to zero causing hospitals to enact surge procedures to change regular hospital rooms into ICU beds. In Southern California, the percentage of available ICU beds dropped to 2.7% making the option of sending patients to other counties nearly impossible.
Riverside County is reporting a record 930 coronavirus patients hospitalized, meaning their condition cannot be treated at home. Additionally, 184 patients’ level of care requires being placed in the Intensive Care Unit. Both the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized and those in the ICU have surpassed the numbers reported during the summer wave.
All of us can play a role in reducing the strain on our health care system and our frontline medical workers by practicing these steps:
- Wear a face mask when around others outside of your immediate household, even around extended family members
- If meeting others outside of your immediate household, try to meet outdoors.
- Social distance at least 6 feet away from others outside of your immediate household
- Limit your shopping in person to as few times each week as possible and avoid extended time inside a retail store, such as a grocery store.
- Wash your hands often throughout the day and especially before eating and drinking
- Disinfect often touched items like a smartphone that also touches your face
