SoCal Hospitals Delaying Elective Surgeries As Covid-19 Impact Grows

A new health order is requiring California hospitals to delay nonessential surgeries in order to help ease pressure on the state’s overwhelmed ICU system.

The California Department of Public Health issued the order late Tuesday night January 5th 2021.

It only applies to counties where the available ICU capacity is less than ten-percent.

Every county in Southern California, including Riverside County,  has an ICU availability percentage of zero percent.

The order also requires hospitals to accept patient transfers from facilities that have implemented crisis care guidelines.

Surgeries for patients with serious and urgent medical conditions will continue.

Nurse talking to patient in hospital bed.

Photo from Alpha Media USA Portland OR