Newsom considering stay-at-home order for California counties

OAKLAND – Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Monday he was considering imposing stay-at-home orders on California counties to curb an explosion of coronavirus cases that threaten to overwhelm hospitals by Christmas.

Newsom has said he may impose additional restrictions in the coming weeks. He suggested the state could target orders in areas where hospitals are most at risk of being overwhelmed by Covid-19 patients.

“We are trying to be much more specific, more surgical … and more prescriptive in terms of efficiency research and data research leading us to make these determinations sector by sector,” Newsom explained.

The background: California has controlled the spread of Covid-19 better than most states – ranking 39th out of 50 for per capita case rates – but Newsom sounded the alarm on Monday over the unprecedented pace of the news spread infections.

Over the weekend, the state moved six more counties into the state’s most restrictive purple level, now affecting 99% of residents.

California currently bans indoor dining, gyms, and church services in 51 of 58 counties, among other restrictions. If Newsom reinstalls limits comparable to those in the spring, most outdoor commercial activities would be banned and people would have to stay at home except for essential services.

Los Angeles County has already imposed a stay-at-home order this week.

The data: California’s seven-day average of new daily cases reached 14,600 – higher than the peak of the summer surge. Newsom highlighted the potential pressure on state hospitals and that further restrictions may be needed to ensure sufficient beds are available.

State health officials predict that without additional interventions or behaviors, hospitalizations could double or triple in just one month and intensive care units could exceed capacity. Statewide, ICU admissions could reach 112% of capacity by December 24.

“What concerns us right now is specifically the ICUs,” said Secretary of the Agency for Health and Human Services Mark Ghaly, referring to the capacity of ICUs as “the main trigger” in the news. restrictions and an order to stay at home.

About 12 percent of all Covid-19 cases require hospitalization, and about 10 to 30 percent of those hospitalizations become intensive care admissions.

“It’s the lay of the land in terms of the red flags flying. No yellow flags, ”Newsom said.

On vaccines: Newsom noted that California plans to receive 327,000 doses of the vaccine by mid-December, with second doses likely to follow in the additional three weeks.

Given that this initial installment falls short of sufficiently covering frontline healthcare workers at the front of the queue, the group that is drafting the guidelines on how to fairly distribute the virus is expected to release its report this week to the first phase of Distribution.

Perspectives: Newsom and Ghaly said they are in constant contact with health officials and expect to make a decision on further restrictions in the coming days. Ghaly suggested the state could limit the length of a stay-at-home order based on the conditions they see on the ground.