One of the main drivers of theCOVID-19 pandemic isIntensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity as resources such ashospital staff andpersonal protective equipment (PPE) are continuously used up. Althoughdisaster planning for such a contingency had already taken place (and indeed has been updated),[1] the sheer scale of the impact first became apparent on the state level in late November 2020.[2][3][4]
Not least amongst the concerns is the tremendous strain on staff and the inability to transfer patients to other hospitals which are likewise swamped, a particular problem in rural states which have commensurate health care infrastructure.[5]
So serious is the issue thatGovernor Newsom of California issued a strict stay-at-home order to take effect 48 hours whenever any of that state's five regions -Northern California,San Francisco Bay Area,Southern California, GreaterSacramento,San Joaquin Valley, andSouthern California reach 15% remaining capacity as projections were that hospitals shall be swamped by Christmas.[6]
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