By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
COVID Admissions Remain On The Rise
sj ready

Hospital Intensive Care Units (ICU) in San Joaquin County are operating at 132 percent capacity while total hospital capacity is at 76 percent.

The Monday, July 20 report of 236 COVID positive patients being treated in hospitals within San Joaquin County marks a significant rise in hospitalizations, with a reported 80 COVID positive patients receiving intensive care.

“The need for intensive care services for COVID patients nearly exceeds the licensed ICU bed capacity within the county,” said Dan Burch, San Joaquin County EMS Administrator. “Hospitals are expanding intensive care services to meet the patient surge creating additional ICU beds and shifting staff to meet demand.”

Officials offer the following guidelines: Do not delay seeking care. If you are experiencing a medical emergency such as a heart attack, stroke, difficulty breathing or altered mental status contact 911 to activate the EMS system. If you are ill or sick contact your physician or healthcare provider.

People can also protect themselves, said county health officials.

Among the top recommendations are to: stay home; avoid people outside your household; wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; wear a face mask when out in public; cover your cough or sneeze; frequently clean and disinfect touched objects and surfaces; maintain physical distance of six feet whenever outside of the house; stay away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

With 746 hospital beds in use in the county as of July 20, 32 percent were occupied by the COVID positive patients. Eighty COVID positive patients were in the ICU, accounting for 61 percent of ICU patients, with 131 ICU beds in use countywide.

St. Joseph’s Medical Center recorded the highest number of hospitalized COVID positive ICU patients, with 39, and had a total of 94 COVID positive patients in the hospital. On the lower side, Doctors Hospital of Manteca had six hospitalized COVID positive patients and two of them were in the ICU. Hospitals in San Joaquin County include Adventist Health Lodi Memorial Hospital, Dameron Hospital Association, Doctors Hospital of Manteca, Kaiser Foundation Hospital Manteca, San Joaquin General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Sutter Tracy Community Hospital.

San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services, in partnership with the San Joaquin County EMS Agency provides updates daily on the most current hospital statistics, Monday through Friday. For additional information, visit www.sjready.org.