Hospitals in San Joaquin County report having 340 COVID positive patients admitted for care. Demand for intensive care services is at an all-time high with adult intensive care units (ICU) operating at 175 percent of licensed bed capacity as of Monday afternoon, Jan. 4. San Joaquin County hospitals report 17 patient deaths due to COVID in the 48 hours from Sunday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon.

Demand for ICU services significantly increased over the New Year’s weekend with St. Joseph’s Medical Center operating at 215 percent of licensed capacity with 84 patients requiring ICU care and San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp operating at 175 percent of licensed capacity with 28 patients. With the help of the Department of Defense medical assistance team, Lodi Memorial Hospital is operating at 190 percent with 19 patients and Dameron Hospital, Stockton is operating at 183 percent caring for 22 ICU patients.

“I cannot say thank you enough to the staff of the county’s seven acute care hospitals for their skill and dedication in caring for patients during the pandemic especially for the 106 COVID positive patients requiring intensive care services. The 106 patients requiring ICU care to battle COVID alone exceeds the county’s 99 licensed ICU beds. The impact of COVID-19 on the members of our community and our healthcare system is glaring,” Dan Burch, EMS Administrator.