Date: January 14, 2021
Number: NR21-016
Contact: CDPHpress@cdph.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO ā Today, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released the most recent statistics on COVID-19, including data on intensive care unit (ICU) capacity across the state. Beginning today, CDPH will update the Regional Stay at Home metrics for each region twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. The next update will be Friday, January 15.
Projected ICU capacity remains below 15% in the Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley and Southern California regions. which remain under the Regional Stay at Home Order. The order will be lifted for a region once its four-week ICU projection shows a capacity of greater than or equal to 15%.
Counties within the Greater Sacramento and Northern California region are under the tiering system and rules of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
The ICU capacity projections are based on four factors: current estimated regional ICU capacity available, measure of current community transmission, current regional case rates and the proportion of ICU cases being admitted. Decreasing community transmission and increasing the health system capacity can help a regionās projected ICU capacity so they can exit the order. Read the full Regional Stay Home Order, Supplement to the Order, and frequently asked questions.
Due to high rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations impacting the health care system, California is also under a Limited Stay at Home Order. The order applies to all counties that are currently under the Regional Stay at Home Order and those in Tier One (Purple) of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The Limited Stay at Home Order will expire after the Regional Stay At Home Order has been terminated in all regions of the state.
Safe
Schools for All Update
Governor
Gavin Newsom today announced the launch of transparency, accountability and
assistance measures related to Californiaās Safe Schools for All plan. The Safe Schools for All Hub was launched as a one-stop
shop for information about safe in-person instruction. For more information,
visit the Safe
Schools for All Hub.
Hospital Surge Order
On January 5, CDPH issued a public health order to reduce pressure on strained hospital systems. To preserve services for the sickest patients, the hospital surge order requires some non-essential and non-life-threatening surgeries to be delayed in counties with 10% or less of ICU capacity under the Regional Stay at Home Order where the regional ICU capacity is at 0%. Examples of procedures that may be delayed include carpal tunnel release and non-urgent spine surgeries. Surgeries for patients who have serious and urgent medical conditions will continue. Examples of procedures that will continue include serious cancer removal and necessary heart surgeries. The order will remain in effect for at least three weeks and will continue until rescinded.
The order requires hospitals statewide to accept patient transfers from facilities that have implemented contingency or crisis care guidelines as long as those transfers can be done capably and safely. On December 28, 2020 CDPH provided guidance to health care facilities on implementing the Crisis Care Continuum Guidelines issued in June 2020.
Counties Currently Impacted by the Hospital Surge Order:
San Joaquin Valley: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Benito, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare.
Southern California: Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura
Statewide COVID-19 Data as of Today
- California has 2,816,969 confirmed cases to date. Numbers may not represent true day-over-day change as reporting of test results can be delayed.
- There were 35,930 newly recorded confirmed cases Wednesday.
- The 7-day positivity rate is 12.6% and the 14-day positivity rate is 13.4%.
- There have been 37,130,366 tests conducted in California. This represents an increase of 287,715 during the prior 24-hour reporting period.
- As case numbers continue to rise in California, the total number of individuals who will have serious outcomes will also increase. There have been 31,654 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
- As of January 13, a total of 971,829 vaccine doses have been administered statewide. As of January 13, a total of 2,948,350 vaccine doses, which includes the first and second dose, have been shipped to local health departments and health care systems that have facilities in multiple counties.
Tracking COVID-19 in California
Vaccinate All 58
In order to increase the pace of COVID-19 vaccine distribution to those at greatest risk, the state is prioritizing individuals 65 and older to receive the vaccine as demand subsides among health care workers. This effort will help to reduce hospitalizations and safe lives. For more information on the vaccine effort, visit the Vaccinate All 58 webpage.
Travel Advisory
CDPH has issued an updated travel advisory. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Non-essential travelers from other states or countries are strongly discouraged from entering California and should adhere to the state's self-quarantine procedures for 10 days.
Health Care Workers
As of January 13, local health departments have reported 77,215 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 298 deaths statewide.
Health Equity
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted existing inequities in health that are the result of structural racism and poverty, and the disproportionate prevalence of underlying conditions such as asthma and heart disease among Latinos and African Americans. California is committed to understanding these inequities to help ensure the best health outcomes for all Californians. View COVID-19 Race & Ethnicity Data and Cases and Deaths by Age Group. Visit the new Health Equity Dashboard.
Testing Turnaround Time
The testing turnaround time dashboard reports how long California patients are waiting for COVID-19 test results. During the week of December 27 to January 2, the average time patients waited for test results was 1.4 days. During this same time period, 60% of patients received test results in one day and 87% received them within two days.
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
As of January 11, 167 cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) have been reported statewide. MIS-C is a rare inflammatory condition associated with COVID-19 that can damage multiple organ systems. MIS-C can require hospitalization and be life threatentng.