BAY AREA – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning about the surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in California, indicating that the situation may worsen in the near future.
According to data from the CDC, California experienced a rapid increase in influenza activity and emergency department visits for COVID-19 during the first three weeks of December. This surge continued nationally through the final week of December, attributed to holiday gatherings, travel, and the newly identified JN.1 coronavirus variant.
Nationwide, the last week of December witnessed 78,905 emergency department admissions for COVID-19 and 136,668 for influenza, marking respective increases of 72% and 225% from the previous month. COVID-19 hospitalizations in the United States rose by nearly 17% in the past week alone, totaling 29,059 cases. California stands among the states with the highest respiratory virus activity, constituting almost 6.3% of all emergency department visits as of Dec. 23. Approximately 80% of the state’s inpatient beds were occupied, with nearly 70% of intensive care beds in use. COVID-19 deaths increased by 31% week over week during the third week of December.
The CDC warns that the worst is yet to come, noting, “Seasonal influenza activity is elevated and increasing in most parts of the country. COVID-19 activity also remains elevated overall and is increasing in many areas.” Wastewater data confirms that COVID-19 viral activity is at its second-highest peak nationally.
During the last week of 2023, close to 30,000 new patients were hospitalized for COVID-19, marking the highest recorded data since last January. Additionally, more than 14,000 Americans were hospitalized for the flu. This spike in infections coincides with a stall in vaccination numbers, with only 18% of Americans having received the new coronavirus vaccine, while 42% have received the flu shot.
As a response to the rising illnesses, hospitals in at least four states, including California, have reinstated mask mandates. The situation remains concerning, and authorities are urging the public to adhere to safety measures and get vaccinated to curb the spread of the virus.
