LOS ANGELES (AP) — State officials are expected to extend the strictest stay-at-home orders in central and Southern California as hospitals there are quickly running out of intensive care unit beds for coronavirus patients ahead of the presumed post-holiday surge.
The situation is already dire, and the worst is expected to come in the next few weeks after Christmas and New Year’s travelers return home. California hit 2 million confirmed coronavirus cases on Christmas Eve.
State stay-at-home orders for the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California regions are set to expire Monday. As of Sunday, both regions sat at 0% ICU bed capacity, according to the state's Department of Public Health.
San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties fall into the Southern California region, according to the state's map outline.
California's statewide ICU capacity is also 0%.
State officials say the orders are likely to be extended but did not make a definitive ruling Sunday afternoon.
