Find out how COVID-19 hospitalizations in California doubled in less than a month

More people in California are hospitalized with COVID-19 than on any day since March 31, according to data released by the state on Tuesday, July 20.

There are 2,164 patients with confirmed cases, including 552 people sick enough to be in intensive care units. The figures released on Tuesday were contained in the daily state hospital survey conducted on Monday.

These both more than doubled from lows last month: There were 915 confirmed coronavirus patients hospitalized on June 12 and 218 in state intensive care units on June 6.

Here’s how those increases played out by county.

Public health experts say the delta variant, which is more contagious than other forms of coronavirus, is a main factor behind the increase in hospitalizations. Some also cite the reopening of California on June 15, when most restrictions on gatherings were lifted and fully vaccinated people were no longer required to wear masks in public. Cases and hospitalizations hit their lowest point just before this reopening date.

Medical workers fear the increases mean another increase could be on the horizon.

“Every doctor and healthcare provider in Los Angeles is absolutely affected,” said Dr. Hector Castillo, an affiliated family physician at California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, recently.

Yet California is in a better position now than it was last fall. Even though hospitalizations have doubled in less than a month, there are still fewer patients now than at the low point between the summer and winter peaks of last year – and a fraction of the number of patients in the peak of the month. winter peak that sent hospitals in the on the brink of crisis. For about three weeks in December and January, more than 20,000 people statewide were confirmed to be infected with COVID-19.